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UNIV. CALIF. PUBL. AM. ARCH. & ETHN. 



[GIFFORD] PLATE 6 




THOMAS WILLIAMS. OF JAMESTOWN 

CENTRAL SIERRA MIWOK 

X;i rrator of Stories nos. 1-11 



UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS 

IN 

AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY 

Vol. 12, No. 8, pp. 283-338, plate 6 May 1 1, 1917 



MIWOK MYTHS 

BY 

EDWARD WINSLOW GIFFORD 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Introduction 283 

.stories by Thomas Williams 284 

1. The Theft of Fire 284 

2. Bear and the Fawns 286 

3. Yayali, the Giant 292 

4. The Making of Arrows 302 

5. Prairie Falcon 's Marriage 306 

6. The Flood 310 

7. The Repeopling of the World 312 

8. The Search for the Deer 314 

9. Salamander and Chipmunk ■- 318 

10. Lizard and Fox 323 

11. Valley Quail's Adventures 329 

Stories by William Fuller 332 

12. The Theft of Fire " 332 

13. Bear and the Fawns 333 

14. Yayali, the Giant 334 

Abstracts 335 



INTRODUCTION 

The fourteen stories presented in this collection were secured 
during 1913 and 1914 among the Central Sierra Miwok of Tuolumne 
County, California. Three, which are exceedingly brief, were told by 
William Fuller of Soulsbyville. The remaining eleven were obtained 
from Thomas Williams of Jamestown, whose picture appears in 
plate 6. 

All are sentence-by-sentence translations into English of myths 
which were recorded in Miwok on the phonograph. 

These stories were formerly related at night in the circular 
assembly houses of the Miwok. Certain men versed in the myths often 



284 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Etlin. [Vol.12 

travelled from village to village telling the tales in the assembly house 
of each village. Such a raconteur was known as an utentbe, a name 
derived from nine, a myth. Each utentbe was paid for Ins services, 
his audience presenting him with baskets, beads, furs, and food. 
Thomas Williams, who was formerly an utentbe, said that the telling 
of a myth often took all night. Not infrequently the myth was 
chanted. Each myth, whether chanted or told in ordinary prose, was 
accompanied by the songs of the various characters. For example, 
with the story of Prairie Falcon's Marriage belong three songs, one 
sung by Prairie Falcon, one by his wife, and one by his father. 

A comprehensive collection of Miwok myths, including a number 
from the Central Sierra Miwok, has been published by Dr. C. Hart 
Merriam. 1 Stephen Powers includes three Miwok myths in his 
"Tribes of California.' -2 Dr. A. L. Kroeber has printed a number 
of Southern Sierra Miwok myths. 3 



STORIES BY THOMAS WILLIAMS 

1. THE THEFT OF FIRE 

The Black Geese asked the White Geese to help them. They 
gathered in the assembly house. 

Lizard lay on top of the rock and looked into the valley. It was 
then that he found the tire. He saw the flames issuing from the 
smoke hole in the top of a large assembly house. Then Lizard told 
Coyote that he saw the fire below. Coyote doubted him. Lizard said, 
"Come up here on top of the rock, look below, and you will see sparks 
coming from the assembly house." Coyote asked, "Where do you 
see the fire? I see no fire in that direction." Then Lizard said, 
"Watch. There goes another spark." Coyote said to the Geese, 
"It is strange that we cannot see it. He saw it again." The Geese 
did not believe him. They said that he was deceiving them. 

After sundown Coyote saw the fire, entered the assembly house, 
and told everyone about it. Flute-player (Mouse) said nothing. The 
people told Flute-player to go out and look at the fire. Flute-player 
merely said, "Yes." He took with him four flutes, but told no one 



i The Dawn of the World: Myths and Weird Tales told by the Mewan Indians 
of California, A. H. Clark Co., 1910, Cleveland, O. 
^Contrib. X. Am. Ethn., m. 358, 366, 367, 1877. 

a Indian Myths of South Central California, Univ. Calif. Publ. Am. Arch. 
Ethn., IV, 202, 1907. 



1917J Clifford: Mhvok Myths 28.3 

when he left. He played two flutes while he journeyed into the valley. 
When he arrived at the assembly house in the valley, he did not know 
how to enter. Bear. Rattlesnake, and Mountain Lion guarded the 
door, so that none might enter. Flute-player climbed on top of the 
assembly house. There he found Eagle with his wing over the smoke 
hole, so that none might enter. Eagle, however, slept. Flute-player 
was puzzled, for he did not know how to enter the house undetected. 
Finally, lie cut two feathers from Eagle's wing and thereby entered. 

Winn he descended into the assembly house, he found the people 
asleep. He went to the tire and rilled two of his flutes with coals. 
Again he visited the fire, tilling two more. He filled four flutes with 
the fire. 

Then he started for home. All of the people awoke and looked 
for him. They ran all over the hills, but did not find him. Eagle 
sent in pursuit Wind, then Rain, then Hail. Hail caught flute-player. 
Flute-player, however, placed his flutes in the water before Hail 
caught him. He told Hail that he had nothing. He said that he 
would take no one's fire. Hail believed him and departed. 

Flute-player then recovered his flutes and played upon them after 
Hail departed. lie still had his fire. He said to himself, "I have 
my tire." 

Finally, he arrived at home, arrived with his fire in the four flutes. 
Coyote came down the mountains to search for him, for he feared 
that someone had killed Flute-player. Flute-player sent Coyote back 
ahead of him to fell the people that he was returning with the fire. 
Coyote ran back and told the people to gather wood, told them that 
Flute-player was bringing the fire. 

Flute-player proceeded slowly, so that Coyote, becoming impatient, 
went to meet him again. He met him when he was nearly home. 
Upon his arrival, Flute-player climbed on top of the assembly house. 
Then he played his flute. Everyone inside was cold. When Flute- 
player finished playing one flute he dropped coals through the smoke 
hole into the assembly house. Then he started to play a second flute. 
Before he finished playing the second one, Coyote interrupted him 
by shouting. Coyote told Flute-player to continue playing. 

The people in the middle received the fire ; the others received but 
little fire — the north people, the south people, the east people, and 
the west people. The west people did not talk very distinctly, because 
they received so little fire ; the east people the same ; the north people 
the same ; the south people the same. Those who were close to the 



286 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol. 12 

fire talked distinctly. Coyote, who stayed at the door, received but 
little fire. He tried to talk, but shouted instead. 

The people in the middle cooked their food. The others ate theirs 
raw. They talked different languages from the people in the middle. 
The west people talked differently ; the south people talked differently ; 
the north people talked differently; the east people talked differently. 
The middle people talked correctly, for they were around the fire. 
The people who were around the fire cooked their food. The people 
in the middle obtained the acorns and the manzanita. The others had 
nothing to eat. That which they ate was always raw. It was Coyote's 
fault, that the others talked incorrectly. If Coyote had said nothing, 
all would have received fire. He spoiled the scheme, when he shouted 
at Flute-player, for Flute-player stopped. He stopped before he had 
played the fourth flute and before he had distributed all of the fire. 

All of those who received the fire talked the same language. All 
of those who were close to the fire had the same language. Some 
received the fire. Some did not receive it. That is why they did not 
speak the same language. 

If Lizard had not found the fire, all would have died. He found 
the fire and saved the people. Lizard found the fire below. Flute- 
player went below to steal the fire to save the people from death. 
Coyote shouted to Flute-player to drop one coal in front of him. 
Then he dropped the coal and one went without fire. All of the middle 
people understand each other. The others do not hear one another 
very plainly. They would all have talked correctly, if they had all 
received fire. The people fought each other, because they did not 
understand each other's speech. 

[The assembly house of the valley people was upon the west side 
of the San Joaquin River. The assembly house of the Geese was at 
Goodwin's Ranch, near Montezuma, Tuolumne County.] 



2. BEAR AND THE FAWNS 

"Sister-in-law, let us get clover. I like clover," Bear said to Deer. 
Then Deer replied, "Yes, we will eat clover." Bear said, "We will 
leave these girls (Fawns) at home. They always follow you." She 
told the Fawns, "We go to eat clover. Clover is high enough to eat 
now, I think. You girls stay at home until we return." 

Bear said to her sister-in-law, "Let's go. We will be back to- 
night." Then they went below to eat clover. 



1917] Clifford: Miwok Myths 287 

After they had gone below, Bear said, "Let's sit down and rest." 
Then she continued, "Examine my head, examine my head. I must 
have lice on my head." Deer replied, "Yes, yes, come here and I will 
look for lice." Then she found lice on Bear's head. She found large 
frogs on Bear's head. When she found the frogs, she picked them off 
and threw them away. Bear asked her, "What is it that you throw 
away? Are you throwing away my lice?" Deer replied, "No, you 
hear the leaves dropping." Bear said, "Take them all out. I have 
many lice." 

Then Deer removed them all. Bear asked, "What are you throw- 
ing away?" Deer replied, "I throw away nothing. You hear pine 
cones dropping from the tree." Bear said, "1 think that you throw 
away my lice." Deer retorted, "No, those are pine cones dropping 
from the trees." 

"Remove them all, then," said Bear; "remove them all. My head 
feels light, since you have finished picking the lice from it." Deer 
threw away the frogs, threw away large frogs. 

Bear said to Deer, "Let me examine your head." Deer said, "All 
right." Bear examined Deer's head and said, "There are many." 
Deer's lice were wood-ticks and Bear proceeded to take them from 
Deer's head. 

Then Bear said, ' ' There are many. 1 do not think I can get them 
all by picking. You have many. Let me chew these Lice and your 
hair with them. That is the only way I can remove them. You have 
many lice. I do not think that I have removed them all. There are 
many. Stoop and I will chew your hair. Do not be afraid. Stoop 
and let me try." 

Then Deer stooped. She thought Bear's intentions were good. 
Bear examined her hair for a while, and then chewed. Instead of 
chewing Deer's hair. Bear bit her neck, killing her. 

Bear ate all of Deer, except the liver, which she took home. She 
placed the liver in a basket and put clover on top of it. Then she went 
home. She proceeded homeward after sundown, carrying the clover 
in the basket with the liver in the bottom of the basket. 

Arriving at home, she told the Fawns to eat the clover. She said 
to them, "Your mother has not come yet; you know she is always 
slow. She always takes her time in coming home." Thus spoke Bear 
to the Fawns, when she arrived at home. 

The Fawns ate the clover. After they had eaten it, they saw the 
liver in the bottom of the basket. The younger one found it. She 



288 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol. 1- 

told the older one, "Our aunt killed our mother. That is her liver." 
The older Fawn said to her younger sister, ' ' Our aunt took her down 
there and killed her. We had better watch, or she will kill us, too." 

Thej- continued to eat the clover after finding the liver. Then 
the younger one said, "What shall we do? I fear she will kill us, if 
we stay here. We had better go to our grandfather. Get ready all of 
our mother's awls. Get all of the baskets. Get ready and then we 
will go. We will go before our aunt kills us. She killed our mother. 
I think it is best for us to go." 

"Do not forget to take the awls," said the older Fawn, for she was 
afraid of being overtaken by Bear. The Fawns started with the 
baskets and awls, leaving one basket behind. Their aunt, Bear, was 
not at home when they left. When she returned, she looked about, 
but saw no Fawns. Then Bear discovered their tracks and set out 
to follow them. After she had tracked them a short distance, the 
basket, left at home, whistled. Bear ran back to see if the Fawns had 
returned. In the meantime the Fawns proceeded on their journey, 
throwing awls and baskets in different directions. Again, Bear started 
from the house. As she proceeded the awls whistled. Bear, thinking 
that the Fawns were whistling, left the trail in search of them. 

The Fawns said, "We go to our grandfather." 

As Bear followed them along the trail, the baskets and awls 
whistled and delayed her. Whenever Bear beard the whistles, she 
became angry and ran in the direction from which the sound pro- 
eeeded. She of course saw nothing and returned to the trail. She 
heard a whistle in the direction id' the stream. She ran toward it, but 
when she arrived there, saw nothing. 

When she did not find the girls she became angry. She said, 
"Those girls are making fun of me." Then she shouted, "Where are 
you, girls? Why don't you meet me?" The awls only whistled in 
response and Bear ran toward tin- sound. Then she became still 
angrier and said to herself, "If I capture you girls, I will eat you. 
If I find you girls, I will eat. you." 

Bear continued to track the Fawns. She found the trail easily 
and saw their tracks upon it. She said, "I have found the marks that 
will lead me to them." She followed the marks upon the trail. "If 
I catch them, I shall eat them." She heard more whistling and that, 
enraged her. Then she jumped on to a tree and bit a limb in two. 
It made her furious to hear the whistling. She said to herself, "If I 
ever catch those girls, I shall eat them." The baskets continued to 



1917] Clifford: Miwok Myths 289 

whistle on both sides of the trail, making her very angry, and retard- 
ing her progress. The Fawns had many baskets. 

They followed the long trail until they arrived at a river. Bear 
was far behind. On the opposite side of the river they saw their 
grandfather, Daddy Longlegs. They told him that Bear had eaten 
their mother and that they wanted to cross the river in order to escape 
from her. Their grandfather extended his leg across the river so that 
they might walk across on it. Then they crossed on their grand- 
father's leg. In the meantime Bear continued to track them. She 
still followed false leads because of the whistling of the baskets and 
awls. The following of false leads delayed her. 

The Fawns said to their grandfather, Daddy Longlegs, "Let her 
cross the river. She follows ns." Bear was still coming along the 
trail. The baskets, the soap-root brushes, and the awls continued to 
whistle, causing her delay. The Fawns had many baskets, soap-root 
brushes, and awls. 

After the Fawns had crossed the river, Bear arrived at the bank. 
She asked Daddy Longlegs, "Did the girls come by this place?" He 
replied, "Yes." Then Bear told Daddy Longlegs, "The girls ran 
away from me." Daddy Longlegs asked, "Where is their mother?" 
Bear replied, "Their mother is sick. That is why she did not come, 
and that is why I seek the girls. She told me to bring them back." 

Bear then asked Daddy Longlegs to put his leg across the river, 
so that she might cross. He said, "All right," and stretched his leg 
across the river. Then Bear walked on Daddy Longlegs' leg. When 
she reached the middle, Daddy Longlegs gave a sudden spring and 
threw her into the air. She fell into the river, and had to swim 
to the opposite shore. 

She found again the track of the Fawns. Wherever the track was 
plain she ran rapidly to make up for the time lost. The numerous 
awds, which the Fawns had thrown to each side of the trail, whistled 
as before. 

"Hurry, sister, we near our grandfather's (Lizard's) house," said 
the older Fawn to the younger. Bear became exceedingly angry and 
shouted in her rage. 

"Hurry, she comes; hurry, sister, she comes. We would not like 
to have her catch us before we reached our grandfather's," said the 
older Fawn. Then the Fawns threw awls and baskets to each side 
of the trail anew. As they approached their grandfather's house. 
Bear gained upon them. As Bear saw them nearing their grand- 
father's she shouted again in her anger. 



290 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Etlin. [Vol. 1- 

The Fawns at last arrived at their grandfather's assembly house 
and asked him to open the door. The grandfather told the Fawns, 
"My door is on the north side of the house." The Fawns ran to the 
north side, but found no door. Then they called again, '-Hurry, 
grandfather, open the door." He said, "My door is on the east side 
of the house." Then they ran to the east side, but found no door. 
Then they ran around the house. They found no door. They called 
again to their grandfather. He said, "My door is at the top of the 
house. Come in through the top." 

The Fawns climbed to the top of the house and entered through 
the smoke hole. Their grandfather asked why they had come to see 
him. The Fawns told him, "Bear killed our mother." The grand- 
father asked. ••Where is Bear?" 

The Fawns said, "Rear took our mother down to the clover. She 
ate mother there. Then she returned to the house and told us to 
eat the clover which she brought. While we were eating the clover 
from the basket, we found the liver of our mother in the bottom 
under the clover, found our mother's liver at the bottom of the basket. 
The clover was on top of it." Thus spoke the Fawns to their grand- 
father. He asked them again, "Where is Bear?" 

The Fawns replied, "She follows us. She comes. Yes. she comes." 

Then Lizard, their grandfather, threw two large white stones into 
the fire. The Fawns sat by and watched him while he heated the 
two white stones. While he heated the stones. Bear came. She had 
followed the tracks of the Fawns to their grandfather's assembly 
house. Bear said to herself, "I think they went to their grand- 
father's." Meanwhile Lizard heated the white stones. 

After looking around the assembly house. Bear called to Lizard, 
"Did the Fawns come here.'" Lizard said, "Yes. Why.'" "Well. 
I wish to take them home." said Bear. Lizard asked. ""Why do you 
wish to take them home?" Then Bear replied. "I wish to take them 
home to their mother. Where is your door?" 

Lizard told her that the door was on the north side of the assembly 
house. She ran to the north side, but found no door. She called 
again, "Where is the door?" "It is on the west side of my assembly 
house," said Lizard. Bear was very angry, but she ran to the wist 
side of the house. She found no door there, so she asked again. 
Lizard said, "It is on the east side of my assembly house." Again 
she found no door, and she became exceedingly angry and asked him 
crossly, "Where is the door?" Lizard replied, "Run around the 



1917] Clifford: Miwok Myths 291 

assembly house and you will find it." She ran around the house 
four times, but to no avail. In more of a rage than ever, she asked 
Lizard. "Where is your door?" Then Lizard told her that it was 
at the top of the assembly house. Bear climbed to the top and found 
the opening. 

Upon finding the opening, she shouted and said, "I shall eat those 
girls." Lizard only laughed. Bear asked how she should enter. 
Lizard said, "Shut your eyes tight ami open your mouth wide, then 
you enter the quicker." 

Bear shut her eyes tight and shoved her head through tin- smoke 
hole with her mouth wide open. Lizard called to her. "Wider." 
Then Lizard threw those two white stones, which lie had heated, and 
threw one of them into her mouth. It rolled into her stomach. He 
threw the second one. It remained in her mouth. Bear rolled from 
the top of the assembly house dead. 

Lizard told his granddaughters, "She is dead." Then Lizard 
went outside and skinned Bear. After skinning her, he dressed the 
hide well. lie cut it into two pieces, making one small piece and one 
large piece. 

He gave the large hide to the older Fawn and the small hide to 
the younger. He said to them, "Take care of those hides." Then 
he told the older Fawn to run and discover what sort of a sound the 
hide made when she ran. The older Fawn ran and the sound was 
very loud. Then Lizard told the younger Fawn to run. Her hide 
made a fairly loud sound, but not so loud as that of the older Fawn. 

Old Lizard laughed, saying, "The younger one is stronger than 
the older." Then he told them to run together. He pointed to a 
large tree and told them to try their strength against the tree. The 
older one tried first. She ran against it, splintering it a little. Then 
the younger girl ran against the tree at its thickest part. She smashed 
it to pieces. 

Lizard laughed again and said, "You are stronger than your 
sister." Then he told both to run together. They ran about and 
kicked the tree all day long. Lizard returned home and, upon arriv- 
ing there, said, "The girls are all right. I think I had better send 
them above." 

The Fawns said to Lizard, "We are going home." Lizard asked 
them not to go. He said, "I shall get you both a good place. I am 
going to send you girls above." Then the girls went up. They 
ran around above and Lizard heard them running. He called them 



l'iil' University of California Publications in Am. Areli. and Elhn. [Vol.12 

Thunders. He said, "I think it is better for them to stay there. 
They will be better off there." Lizard closed the door of his assembly 
house. Rain began to fall. The girls ran around on the top, and rain 
and hail fell. 



3. YAYALI, THE GIANT 

The Giant walked from below. He shouted as lie journeyed up 
the mountain, shouted all of the way. He shouted to the people as 
he searched for them, shouted all around the hills. 

Chipmunk answered him. Chipmunk told the people that some- 
one was coming up the mountain shouting. "Perhaps he comes to 
tell us something," said Chipmunk. "I shall meet him." Chipmunk 
said to his wife, "I think your brother comes. I shall meet him, for 
1 think he comes." 

It was raining heavily when Chipmunk went to meet the new- 
comer. Chipmunk called to him, "Come, tell us who you are." The 
Giant answered Chipmunk by saying, "There is my meat." Chip- 
munk again answered the Giant's call, for he thought that his brother- 
in-law was coming. 

Chipmunk at last realized that the newcomer was not his brother- 
in-law, and he said to himself, "I have found someone. 1 have met 
someone, lie is not my brother-in-law." When Chipmunk saw the 
burden basket on the back of the Giant, he knew that he was not his 
brother-in-law. Chipmunk said to himself, "I do not think I will 
go anywhere now. I do not think I will be able to reach home." Just 
then the Giant approached him and asked him where he was going. 
Chipmunk replied, "My assembly house is over there." The Giant 
said, "Go ahead and I will go with you." 

Upon arriving at the house, Chipmunk told the Giant to enter 
ahead of him, while he obtained wood and built a tire. The Giant 
insisted, however, that Chipmunk take the lead, saying that he was 
not a member of the family. "You are the owner of the house," said 
tin' Giant. "You lead into your own house. I am not the owner of 
it." Chipmunk demurred and asked the Giant to go ahead. "Take 
the had. or you will freeze," he said to the Giant. "You have been 
in the rain and have become wet. I will build a fire for you." 
. Chipmunk's insistence was of no avail. Again the Giant faid, 
"You take the lead. You are the owner of the house." Then Chip- 
munk, to save further argument, led the way into the house. The 



1917] Gifford: Miwok Myths 293 

Giant followed him. As they approached the door, the Giant reached 
into his basket, securing- a stone. He threw the stone at Chipmunk, 
striking him on the hack and killing him. 

After he had killed Chipmunk, the Giant told Chipmunk's wife 
to help him bring in the meat. He then made himself at home and 
married Chipmunk's widow. He cooked Chipmunk, the owner of the 
house, whom he had killed. He told his new wife to eat of Chip- 
munk's flesh after he had cooked it. She said, "You eat it." The 
Giant insisted, "You eat it, you eat it." 

After the Giant left the house, his wife (Chipmunk's widow) dug 
a hole in the ground. She placed in the hole her daughter by Chip- 
munk. She fed the little girl with deer meat. 

The Giant returned at sundown. He had in his basket many 
people, whom he had killed. When he entered the house, he said 
to his wife, "We will not starve. We have plenty of meat." The 
woman told the Giant to eat the human Mesh himself. She cooked 
deer meat for herself. She ate the deer meat. The Giant ate the 
people whom he had killed. 

The Giant's wife cooked deer meat, with which she fed her 
daughter, whom she had hidden in the pit. She did not wish the 
Giant to see her daughter, for fear that he might eat her. 

As the Giant departed the next morning, he said to his wife, "You 
have a better husband than you had before. He obtains more meat 
than your former husband. Chipmunk. I go now to get you more 
meat." He proceeded into the hills in search of more people. He 
told his wife before be left, that he would be back at sundown. As he 
departed he rolled a big boulder against the door, so that his wife 
might not escape. He rolled large boulders against both ends of the 
assembly house, and also one over the smoke hole at the top of the 
assembly house, where the smoke emerges. He closed the doors tightly 
with large boulders. After he had closed the doors, he went into the 
hills to capture more victims, lie returned with a load of people in 
his basket. He had captured many large, fat people for his wife. 
He rolled the boulders aside and entered the house. 

AVhile he was away, his wife had cooked deer meat. The Giant 
wished to feed his wife upon fat people. He told her to eat the Mesh 
of fat people. She said, "Yes," but instead she ate deer meat. The 
Giant thought that she ate the fat people, but instead she ate deer 
meat. He threw away some of the human flesh, because he could not 
eat it all. Again he obtained more fat people and cooked them. He 



294 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol. 12 

told his wife to eat the flesh of the fat people. He said, ' ' If you do 
not eat them, I will kill you." He said, "I think you have a very 
good husband. He always obtains plenty of meat, when he hunts. 
He never misses a person with his stone." Again he returned with 
a large load of victims, whom he cooked for his wife. He cooked, and 
he rooked, and he cooked. When it became dark he danced. He was 
so tall that his head projected through the smoke hole of the assembly 
house. 

The Giant 's wife gave birth to two boy babies. Both of them were 
little giants. She wished to kill them, but she feared that the Giant 
would avenge their deaths. She fed them and they grew. All the 
while she kept Chipmunk's daughter in the pit. She fed her con- 
tinually with deer meat. By the Giant, she bore two little giants. 

When the Giant departed for the day, she took her daughter from 
the pit, and held her in her lap. while the two little giants slept. 
She cried all day, when the Giant was away. She mourned for poor 
Chipmunk. She feared the Giant, but she could not escape, because 
the boulders, which the Giant put against the doors, were too heavy 
for her to push away. So each day she sat in the house and cried. 

"You eat them. This is the meat which I cooked for .you. You 
eat them. This is the best one. I selected it for .you." The woman 
replied, "Yes.'' Then the Giant danced. He danced. He danced. 
His head went through the smoke hole, when he danced. When he 
felt happy he danced, his head going through the smoke hole. 

He told his wife, "Care for my sons. Don't lose them. Care for 
my sons. Do not fear hunger, for I will always bring you plenty of 
meat. I am always sure to obtain meat when I hunt." He went into 
the hills again in the morning to capture more women and boys and 
men. He killed everybody, old people, young people, girls, and men. 
He killed so many that he filled his basket in a very short time. His 
wife, however, had plenty of deer meat which Chipmunk had obtained 
for her. 

Every night, when the Giant came home, he danced. After he 
had danced, he cooked the meat for his wife, giving her old men and 
old women. He took for himself the young people. When he came 
home, he brought pine nuts with his victims. The old white-shelled 
pine nuts, that were worthless, he cracked and gave to his wife, "Eat 
these pine nuts. Here are plenty of pine nuts. You will not become 
hungry, if you stay with me. Thus he spoke to his wife, when he 
came home each night. He said to her, "Eat these pine nuts, for I 



1917] Gifford: Miwok Myths 295 

perceive that you are hungry." His wife said, "Yes." However, 
she deceived him, for she did not eat the pine nuts. When he was 
not looking, she threw them away. She threw them away, when he 
was not looking. At the same time, she made believe that she ate the 
pine nuts. She ate only pine nuts which Chipmunk had obtained for 
her. She did not eat those which the Giant brought to her. Each time 
that the Giant went away, she ate from her own stock of pine nuts, 
which Chipmunk had collected for her. 

The old women and the fat women that the Giant obtained, he 
brought to his wife; also those women who wen' pregnant, lie said 
to his wife, "Eat, Eat well." His wife replied, "Yes, I am eating 
them." Yet all the time she deceived him. 

Again he went into the hills to hunt people. He travelled all over 
the country in his search. When he returned, he brought a large load 
of people. Upon his arrival, he cooked the old women for his wife. 
Then he danced outside of the assembly house. Afterwards he danced 
inside. His wife did not eat the old women whom he cooked for her. 
She said, "Yes, I am eating," but she always deceived him. She 
worried every day, for fear that the Giant would kill her. That which 
he cooked for her she put into a hole, making believe, however, that 
she ate it. Instead, she ate deer meat, The Giant thought that she 
ate the persons whom he cooked for her. 

The deer meat, which she cooked each day while the Giant was 
absent, she fed to her daughter in the pit. Each day, when she took 
her daughter from the pit, she cried. She felt sorry for the girl, 
because her father had been cooked in the fire. The thought of Chip- 
munk's sad end depressed her and made her cry all day, while the 
Giant was away. When the Giant returned in the evening, she hid 
her daughter in the pit. She herself lay over the pit, so that the 
Giant would not find her daughter. She sat over the pit, so that the 
Giant would not take the girl. The two sons of the Giant lay in the 
corners of the house. The Giant changed them from corner to corner, 
when he came home. The boys never cried. They laughed all the 
time. That is all that the}- did. 

Chipmunk's brothers below dreamed about him. One of them 
said, "I think I will visit him. I will see how he fares. I dreamed 
that he was sick." So spoke one of Chipmunk's brothers after he 
dreamed about him. He told no one that he was leaving, but pro- 
ceeded secretly into the mountains. He did not follow the regular 
trail, but went through the brush, passing through the high nioun- 



296 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Etlui. [Vol. 12 

tains. He spoke to no one of his proposed visit. He did not hasten, 
but travelled slowly toward his brother's home. 

At last he arrived at Chipmunk's assembly-house. He said to his 
sister-in-law, "I am coming. Why are these large boulders against 
the door?" Then his sister-in-law answered him from within, saying, 
"Come in. The Giant killed your brother. He closes the door with 
those large boulders each time he goes out." Thus did his sister-in- 
law answer him, when he arrived at her house. 

Then he rolled aside the boulders at each end of the house. His 
sister-in-law said to him after he entered. "The Giant killed your 
brother. Just see us. There are the Giant 's two sons. " Her brother- 
in-law then inquired about her daughter. "Where is my brother's 
girl?" he said. The woman replied, "She is in this hole. I did not 
want the Giant to see her." Thus spoke his sister-in-law, when she 
answered him. 

Chipmunk's brother a.sked his sister-in-law when the Giant would 
return. She said, "Sometimes lie returns after sundown, sometimes 
before sundown. Today he went far and will not return until to- 
morrow morning." 

Then her brother-in-law told her to crush some obsidian. He said, 
"You can go home. The Giant has many brothers. If they overtake 
you. and try to catch you. while you are on your way home, throw 
the crushed obsidian in their faces. I shall not go. I shall remain 
here." 

She crushed obsidian and placed it on a deer hide. After she 
crushed it. her brother-in-law told her to start for home. He warned 
her especially not to lose the obsidian. "If they catch you," he said, 
"you can use it. Throw it in their eyes." lie then proceeded to dig 
holes in different directions. 

Following his advice she started. .Meanwhile he dug holes, one 
toward the south, one toward the east, one toward the north, and 
one toward the west. He dug them so that he might conceal himself 
and dodge from one to the other in case he were pursued. lie made 
holes all around the assembly house, both inside and outside. After 
he had finished digging the holes, he did nothing. He rested and 
walked about outside of the assembly house. 

He thought about the Giant and wondered when he would return. 
He went into the hills and cut a manzanita stick, sharpening one edge 
of it. He worked upon it all day, making it sharp. His sister-in-law 



1917] Gifford: Miwok Myths 297 

told him to be careful with it. He asked her what the Giant did 
when he rami' home. She told him that the Giant always danced, and 
that every time he danced, his head projected through the smoke hole, 
his head projected through the smoke hole at the top of the house. 
Chipmunk's brother said, "All right." He finally finished sharpen- 
ing the manzanita stick, making it very sharp. 

Then lie walked around, lie walked around. While he watched the 
Giant came over the hill. He said to himself, "I think that is he 
coming now." He stood outside and watched the Giant. As the 
Giant approached the house, Chipmunk's brother stepped inside. The 
Giant saw him and said, "There is another victim. There is another 
victim." The Giant was glad that he had another person to kill. 
The Giant followed close behind him into the house. 

Chipmunk's brother had killed the two young giants. He gouged 
out their eyes after he killed them and threw their eyes into the fire, 
putting one in each corner. Before his sister-in-law had left, he had 
asked her where the young giants kept their hearts. She had told 
him, "In the ankle," and that is where he hit them with the stick, 
when he killed them. After he had thrown their eyes into the fire, he 
went outside. The young giants were in each corner beside the fire. 
The two young giants were dead. 

Chipmunk's brother now talked to the Giant. He asked him, 
"AVhat do you do first, when you come home?" The Giant replied, 
"I dance. Just watch me dance." 

Then Chipmunk's brother went into his holes and came forth in 
different places. The Giant tried to catch him and followed him 
about, but Chipmunk's brother was too quick for him and dodged into 
the holes. The Giant chased him around the assembly house. Every 
time that the Giant neared him, he jumped into a hole, appearing 
again in another part of the house. 

He told the Giant, "You cannot catch me unless you dance. After 
you dance, I will let you catch me. I want to see you dance first." 

Chipmunk's brother stayed outside, while the Giant danced. He 
shouted at the Giant and said, "Dance more. Jump higher through 
that smoke hole. I like to see you dance." 

The Giant did as Chipmunk's brother told him. While lie danced, 
Chipmunk's brother with his manzanita stick climbed on top of the 
assembly house. Suddenly he struck the Giant across the neck, decapi- 
tating him. The head rolled down close to the spring near the house 



298 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol. 12 

and the body of the Giant collapsed inside of the house. Chipmunk's 
brother then cut the Giant to pieces and scattered the flesh over the 
trees, on top of the rocks, and inside of the assembly house. 

One of the Giant's brothers dreamed. He dreamed that his 
brother was obtaining plenty of meat. He said to the other brothers 
of the Giant, "Let us visit our brother. He is married now and 
obtains plenty of meat every day." 

Then a large number of the Giant's brothers proceeded to the 
Giant's assembly house. When they arrived at the house, they saw 
the meat hanging on the trees. "Plenty of meat, plenty of meat, 
plenty of meat. Our brother is quite expert with his stone," they 
said. 

Then they cooked the meat which they found on the trees, not 
knowing it was their brother's flesh. They thought that it was the 
flesh of various people whom he had killed. Each of them ate a 
piece. They had all that they wished. 

The youngest brother desired a drink, so they searched for the 
spring, which they found. Just as the youngest one was about to 
drink, he noticed the head lying beside the spring. "We ate our 
brother," he said to his older brothers. Then they all returned to the 
house. The youngest cine said, "Someone killed our brother." 

"What shall we cry?" the youngest one said. One of the others 
answered, "Well, we will cry 'oak.' I do not know who killed our 
brother. We do not know whence the murderer came. Let us sleep 
and dream about it." 

After sleeping, they arose. The one who had proposed that they 
sleep pointed to the south. The others did not believe that the slayer 
of their brother came from that direction. Each of the others said. 
"1 have not dreamed about him yet. Let us sleep again." Again 
they awoke and the one who had dreamed said, "A man from the 
north killed our brother." 

Again they slept, for they did not believe each other. One of them 
awoke and awakened the rest. "A man from the east killed our 
brother," he said. But they did not believe him. 

The youngest brother, who found the head near the spring, started 
to cry. The others tried to stop him. He went again to the spring 
and thrust his head into the water. When he returned to his brothers, 
he pretended that he had cried more than they. They thought that 
the water on him was tears. They said, "He is the only one who really 
mourns for his murdered brother." Then they said, "Let's sleep 
again." 



1917] Gifford: Miwoh Myths 299 

The youngest brother dreamed and awakened the others. He 
told them that he dreamed that a man from the west had killed their 
brother. He said, too, "Our sister-in-law is on the way to her father's 
house. I surely dreamed it." 

They all said, "Let's cry." The youngest one objected, saying-. 
"Let's sleep before w T e cry." Then he dreamed again. He dreamed 
that his sister-in-law was on the waj- to her father's house. 

"Well, let's arise," said the youngest brother. "Let's try to 
catch our sister-in-law before she reaches her father's home." Thus 
spoke the youngest brother. "We must hurry," In- said. "After 
we have made a good start, we can slacken our pace." They all 
proceeded on their way shouting. 

Chipmunk's brother laughed after he killed the Giant. The 
Giant's brothers all ran and Chipmunk's brother laughed. Before 
their sister-in-law reached her father's house, the Giants overtook her. 
One of them said. "Here is our sister-in-law. You catch her," he 
said to one of his brothers. As one of them seized her, she threw a 
handful of crushed obsidian into their faces. They shouted, for she 
had thrown it into their ej-es. Each one said, "Something is in my 
eyes. Hurry, remove it. Hurry, remove it. Hurry, remove it. Hurry, 
remove it." They examined each other's eyes for the obsidian. They 
looked and looked and looked. While they were examining each 
other's eyes, their sister-in-law left them. Again they pursued her 
and overtook her before she reached her father's house. They said 
to each other. "Catch her, catch her. catch her." 

One of them caught her. Again she threw the crushed obsidian. 
She threw it into his face before he caught her. "I have something 
in my eye," he said. "I have something in my eye. I have some- 
thing in my eye. I have something in my eye." Again they exam- 
ined each other's eyes to remove the crushed obsidian. They looked 
and looked and looked. 

Again they followed her. They said, "Let's hurry. Let's catch 
her before she reaches home. Hurry. She has her daughter on her 
back." Then they ran. They ran to catch her. Just as they were 
about to seize her, she threw the crushed obsidian in their faces again. 
Each of them said, "She has thrown something into my eyes." Then 
while they examined each other's eyes, she escaped. 

After they had removed the obsidian from their eyes, they said, 
"Hurry. Let's catch her." Then they ran. "Catch our sister-in- 
law. Hurry," they said. When they attempted to capture her again, 



300 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol. 12 

she threw the obsidian in their eyes. "Something has come into my 
eyes. Something has come into my eyes. Something has come into 
my eyes. Hurry, remove it, - ' each one said. "Hurry, so that we 
may catch her." They ran after her again. Every time they ran 
they shouted. Once more she threw the obsidian in their faces and 
one of them got it in his eyes. Again she ran and they pursued her. 
They said, "We will catch her and hold her this time. She will soon 
exhaust her obsidian." Again she threw the obsidian in their faees, 
when they tried to lay hands on her. She threw it into their eyes. 
Then they looked into each other's eyes and removed the pieces. 

"Hurry," they said, "so that we may catch our sister-in-law." 
Then they ran. Once more she threw obsidian in their eyes, when they 
were about to seize her. Again she ran and this time they were close 
behind her. They shouted continually, while they ran. When they 
attempted to seize her again, she threw the crushed obsidian in their 
eyes. They looked in each other's eyes and removed the obsidian. 
This delayed them and prevented them from capturing her. Again 
they said, "Hurry, so that we may catch our sister-in-law." Once 
more they caught her and she threw the obsidian in their eyes. 

"She approaches her father's home. Hurry, that we may catch 
our sister-in-law," they said. They ran. The woman had not lost 
her daughter, while she was running. When the giants overtook her 
again, she once more threw obsidian in their eyes. 

The woman said to her daughter, "We will reach home safely. 
We will reach your grandfather's. Hurry and do not become tired. 
Hurry, or they will catch us." In the meantime the Giant's brothers 
were drawing closer to her. When they went to catch her, she again 
threw the obsidian into their eyes. They examined each other's eyes 
and removed the crushed obsidian. She escaped from them again, 
while they were removing it. She had very little obsidian left, but 
she was nearing her father's house. She was approaching it, while 
the Giants picked the obsidian from each other 's eyes. ' ' We are near- 
ing home," she told her daughter, "so do not be frightened. Your 
grandfather (Lizard) will save us when we arrive there." 

The giants ran close behind her, shouting as they ran. They 
stopped frequently to dance and to sing. Then they would run after 
her to catch her. When they were about to catch her, she threw the 
crushed obsidian at them. 

She drew near her father's house. The Giants ran after her, say- 
ing to each other, "We must catch her before she reaches home." 



1917] Gifford: MiwoTc Mylhs 301 

When they had nearly captured her, she threw the crushed obsidian 
in their eyes. That was the only way she could escape from them. 
At last she reached the house. 

She called to her father to open the door. She said, "A Giant 
killed your son-in-law. Hurry, open the door. The Giant ate your 
son-in-law." Thus she called to her father. Then he opened the door, 
which was a large rock. After his daughter had stepped inside, he 
spat on the door so that the Giant's brothers could not open it. The 
assembly house turned into rock, when he spat upon the door, turned 
into rock all around. The Giants encircled the house several times 
inquiring for the door. Lizard did not answer them. They finally 
became tired and sat down. Then they began to sing and dance. 
The old man asked his daughter, "Who are they? Who are they?" 
She replied, "They are the Giant's brothers." The old man. her 
father, said, "Let the wind blow them away. Let the wind blow 
them away. Throw them away. I do not want them here." Then 
a great wind came, but the Giant's brothers turned and blew the 
great wind back. 

Then the old man in the assembly house called a great snow. 
The great snow came and covered everything. "Come and cover 
everything," said the old man, when he called the snow. After the 
snow had covered the Giants, they shouted and it melted. They 
shouted and the snow melted. After the snow melted, the old man 
said, "It is strange that they do not mind me. What is the matter 
with them? It is strange that they do not mind." Then he called 
the hail. He called the hail to try and force them to go away. He 
hoped that the hail would chase them away. Thus spoke Lizard, when 
he called the hail. When the hail started, the Giant's brothers 
shouted. The hail ceased immediately. Then Lizard, the woman's 
father, called for a flood. He wished the water to wash away the 
Giant's brothers. Thus spoke Lizard, when he called for the flood 
to help him. The flood came suddenly and washed away the Giant 's 
brothers, before they had an opportunity to shout. They did not 
return, for they were drowned by the water. 

Then the woman told Lizard, her father, "The Giant killed my 
daughter's father. He killed him. The Giant killed him. He ate 
him after he killed him. When the Giant came, we thought that it 
was Chipmunk's brother coming to tell us something. I told Chip- 
munk to go and meet him, when he shouted. I did not know that it 
was a Giant coming. Then Chipmunk went to meet the Giant. When 



302 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Etiin. [Vol.12 

Chipmunk approached the Giant, he shouted to him and asked who 
he was. The Giant replied, 'Come here. I am here.' Thus spoke 
the Giant, when Chipmunk met him. Then the Giant said, 'That is 
my meat over there. I caught him, caught him, meat.* Thus spoke the 
Giant. We knew nothing about the Giant, but thought that he was 
Chipmunk's brother coming for a visit. Then Chipmunk brought 
the Giant home, brought the Giant home. He feared the Giant and 
tried to leave him in the bills, but the Giant followed him. Chip- 
munk's brother is there now. He has taken his dead brother's place. 
I do not know how he fares. He said to me, 'You go to your father. 
I will stay here. I will stay here and take my brother's place. I am 
ready for another Giant.' " 

[The Giant made his home on Table Mountain, near Jamestown, 
Tuolumne County.] 

4. THE MAKING OF AREOWS 

•'What shall we do, brother? What shall we do? I would like to 
hunt. I do not know how we are to hunt. I do not know how we are 
to hunt. I do not know how we shall be able to hunt. I should like 
very much to hunt. I do not know how we can make arrows. We 
have nothing with which to cut. We know of nothing with which 
to cut. I do not know how we can hunt. We have nothing with which 
to cut. We do not know how to cut. I would like very much to hunt, 
brother. I do not know how we are to arrange it. but we will try. 
We have nothing with which to cut. I should like you and me to hunt 
together, brother. We have nothing with which to hunt." 

"Let us throw our grandmother into the water. If she does not 
want to go, we will pull her in. We will throw the old woman, our 
grandmother, into the water. After you have thrown her into the 
water, pull her out quickly. Pull her out quickly. Do not keep her 
in the water long. Do not keep her in the water long." 

Then Dove went. Dove went. He threw his grandmother into 
the water, threw her into the water. After he had thrown her into 
the water, he pulled her out quickly. He pulled her out quickly. 

Then Dove went to his brother and said: "I threw her into the 
water. I have already thrown her into the water. Come, I have 
her." 

His brother said to him, "Pull one of her teeth. We will make 
a knife of it." Then he pulled one of her teeth, pulled one of her 
teeth. After they obtained the tooth, they commenced to cut, com- 
menced to cut. 



1917] Gifford: iliwok Myths 303 

Then Prairie Falcon said, "Pull sinew from her arm. Pull sinew 
from her leg. We shall then have the cord for the bow." Thus 
spoke Prairie Falcon to his brother. 

Dove obtained the sinew, as he was bid. Then they started to 
work on the arrows. They did not know how to begin. They made 
the arrows just by thinking. They made the bow. One of them told 
the other, "We will try." They made a good bow. They made a 
good bow. Xobody knew what the bow was. Xo one had ever seen 
a bow. 

After they completed it, they looked at it. Prairie Falcon said 
to his brother, "I guess this will be satisfactory to hunt with." He 
told his brother to cut a piece of yellow pine. Thus spoke Prairie 
Falcon to his brother, after they had killed their grandmother. Then 
they cut the yellow pine with a knife made from their grandmother's 
tooth. 

Their grandmother went into the water and cried and worried 
about herself. She said, "I did not think my boys would treat me 
this way. 

The two brothers finished making their arrows and bows. They 
completed them. Prairie Falcon said, "These arrows are satisfactory. 
Let us try them." Thus spoke Prairie Falcon to Dove. 

"We will see who can shoot the farthest." They shot toward the 
east end of the world. The arrows struck in the same place. The 
arrows struck in the same place. They did not strike in different 
places. They hit in the same place. After they had shot their 
arrows, Prairie Falcon said, "Let us race. Let us race. "We will 
run to the place where the arrows struck. We will see who shot the 
farthest. We will see who shot the farthest.'" 

Then they ran. Both started at the same time. Both started to- 
gether. They both ran at the same speed. They ran together. One 
of them did not gain on the other. At last they reached the arrows. 
They arrived at the place where the arrows struck. Prairie Falcon 
said to Dove, "You are a pretty good runner. We both run about 
the same. Let us shoot again. Let us shoot again. 

Then they shot toward the west end of the world. Again they 
ran to the place where the arrows struck. Neither won the race, for 
they both ran together. Prairie Falcon said to Dove, "We run the 
same. We run the same. I did not think that you could run so 
fast." 

They shot their arrows again toward the east. The arrows struck 



304 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol. 12 

in one place. Then they ran. When they arrived at the arrows, both 
stopped at the same instant. They both stopped at the same time. 

They shot again to the west end of the world. They shot toward 
the west. Then they ran to the place where the arrows struck. The 
arrows struck in a bush. When the brothers arrived, they saw the 
bush. One brother said to the other, "Let us dig this bush. It is 
good to eat. Let us dig it." They dug the bush from the lower side 
Then they dug, dug, dug. They were nearing the end of the bush, 
Hearing the end. They ate the bush as they dug. They ate while they 
dug. The root became thicker while they dug. They continued to 
dig, continued to dig. The younger brother said to the other, "Keep 
on digging. You will find the end pretty soon. Keep on digging." 
The older brother asked, "Do you see the end yet?*' The younger 
one replied, "I am getting close to the end." He continued to dig. 
He continued to dig. 

Then the grandmother, who had turned into Beaver, said, "'I will 
have revenge upon those boys. " She told the water to drown Prairie 
Falcon. The water came, while Prairie Falcon was digging, and 
drowned him. Dove escaped. He cried for his brother. He rolled 
and rolled over the hills. He cried for his dead brother. He rolled 
and rolled around the great mountains. He was scratched and bruised 
by the rocks and the brush. He bled all over. He mourned for his 
brother and cried for him. He said to himself, "I do not know 
what killed my brother." Thus lie spoke to himself. He travelled 
all over the world crying, travelled to the places which he and his 
brother had visited together. 

Dove met Spark. Spark asked him, "What are you doing? What 
are you crying about? Dove replied, "Something killed my 
brother. I do not know what it was." Then Dove sent Spark to 
investigate. Spark alighted close to the old woman. The old woman 
was still crushing bones. She was still crushing bones. A small bone 
flew out of the mortar. Spark seized it and put it on an arrow. Then 
he shot the arrow with the bone point toward Dove. The arrow struck 
in front of Dove, while hi' was crying. Dove picked up the arrow 
and looked at the point. As he was about to remove the bone point, 
it spoke to him. The point turned into Prairie Falcon. After the 
bone arrow-point transformed itself into Prairie Falcon, Prairie Fal- 
con cried for his brother Dove, because the latter had so many wounds 
and bruises. 

Prairie Falcon cried and cried over his brother Dove, because 



1917] Clifford: Mimok Myths 305 

the latter had bruised and hurt himself so. Brother Dove was bleed- 
ing. He had no hair. Then Prairie Falcon called the various kinds 
of birds together. He asked each to give him one feather. He said, 
"My brother has no feathers on him. Do me this favor. Give me 
one feather apiece." They each gave him one feather. Then he 
rehabilitated his brother Dove. He still cried for his brother Dove, 
for he felt sorry to think that Dove had cut and bruised himself so 
for him. 

Then they went all over the world, searching for Dove's blood on 
the rocks, where he had struck. Every time that Praire Falcon saw 
a rock with his brother's blond upon it he cried, for he knew that it 
was his brother's blood and that those were the rocks which had cut 
his brother. 

Dove recovered from his bruises and cuts and was soon well again. 
Dove said to his brother, "1 am well now. Worry about me no more. 
Worry about me no more. Do not trouble about me. I do not want 
to lose you. See how poor you look now." Thus spoke Dove to his 
brother, while he was crying. This made Prairie Falcon cry the 
more. 

Dove continued. "I thought you told me the truth, when you said 
that that bush was good to eat. If 1 had known that you were in be 
taken away from me so suddenly. I should not have let you dig that 
bush. That is why I do not want you to bother with anything after 
this. Our grandmother turned into a Beaver just as you fell, brother. 
If we had not attacked our grandmother, we should have had a grand- 
mother still." Thus spoke Dove to his brother. Prairie Falcon. 

Now they had no grandmother. Prairie Falcon cried because his 
grandmother had turned into Beaver. They both cried and cried 
for their grandmother. They did not know how to get back their 
grandmother. They went along the river. They saw Beaver in the 
riffle. They said, "There is Beaver." Beaver was their grandmother. 
They used to take their grandmother everywhere they went, but they 
lost their grandmother because of the arrows. At last they aban- 
doned the search for her and went home. Their grandmother had 
turned into Beaver. 

Everybody made arrows thereafter. Dove cried for his grand- 
mother. Prairie Falcon cried, but they made arrows. They lost their 
grandmother because of the arrows. 



306 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol. 12 

5. PRAIRIE FALCON 'S MARRIAGE 

"Going, going to marry Prairie Falcon," Green Heron said. 
"Give me a large basket. Give me a basket, so that I may give it to 
Meadowlark." The two left that night after they had married the 
chief. "Where is my daughter going?" said Green Heron. When 
tiny returned, Coyote followed them. Coyote said, "You, Green 
Heron, what will you do when the chief becomes hungry?" Thus 
spoke Coyote, when he told them to prepare food for the chief. 

Eagle told California Jay to obtain food. Then Coyote said to 
Eagle, "We go now to hunt rabbits." Coyote continued to Califor- 
nia Jay, "Yes, that is all right. Let's go." "Whatever you people 
say is good," said Eagle to Jay. Then they departed. 

Jay and Coyote went hunting. Coyote ran away and hid behind 
a rock. 

Green Heron told his daughters to pound acorns. They said. 
"Yes." They went over to the mortar, where they pounded acorns. 
The chief arose from his bed to marry one of the girls. He had never 
known any girl intimately. Then he went to the assembly house and 
told his wife to pound acorns on the following day. Prairie Falcon 
told his sister to take the acorns to the girls. One of the girls, Meadow- 
lark, gave birth to a boy baby. After she had given birth to the 
child, she pounded acorns. The Eagle visited her while she pounded 
acorns. He took her, Prairie Falcon's wife. "Why is that chief 
deceiving me by taking my wife away from me?" said Prairie Falcon, 
and he became very angry. 

Prairie Falcon decided to go away. He said to his sister, "Give 
me a bow and arrow. I am going into the world." He killed one 
quail with an arrow. He took the quail with him. lie said, "I do 
not think my sister eats anything." Then lie travelled over the 
world, along the water towards the north. After that he returned 
home. He told his sister to tell no one where he had been. 

"I will kill my wife, if she. follows me. She deceived me, when 
she married me," said Prairie Falcon. Then he went around the 
world, returning again to his sister. 

After returning to his sister, he visited his sister's husband, 
Lizard. Lizard threw the fire to him. Lizard said to his wife, "What 
will your brother do over there?" Then Prairie Falcon said to his 
sister, "I think he does not wish me to remain." "Hold back your 
dogs," said Prairie Falcon's sister to Lizard, for Lizard had rattle- 



1917] Gifford: Miwok Myths 307 

snakes and bears for dogs. "I do not want them to bite me," said 
Prairie Falcon to his sister. 

"I go now to the place where my father died," said Prairie 
Falcon to his sister. His sister objected, saying, ' ' Do not go ; remain 
here," for she feared for him. Their father had died at the place to 
which he was going. "No, I go. My father went there and I go, too," 
said Prairie Falcon. His sister then said, "Well, you may go, then. 
Remember, if anything happens to you, that you did not mind me, 
when I told you not to go. ' ' 

"You watch my wife, for she might follow me," said Prairie 
Falcon to his sister. "If she comes, I will kill her. She is a pretty 
woman, but I will kill her, nevertheless." His sister said, "Do not 
kill her, for she will save your life when you arrive at your des- 
tination. ' ' 

His wife followed him all the way. He looked back to find that 
she followed him. She was coming. Prairie Falcon said to his 
brother-in-law. Lizard, "Watch her closely, for I shall take her. I 
do not think that I shall kill her." Lizard watched her and Prairie 
Falcon took her. "Yes, I am going," said Prairie Falcon. "Do not 
give me that girl," he said to Lizard. 

He went north. He told his sister not to tell his wife where he 
had gone. "I go to the north," he said. "I go to the north. I feel 
lonesome." Thus he spoke to his sister, as he was leaving. "It is 
all right if they kill me. I go around the water. I do not think I 
shall come back. I go around the water. I think that will be the last 
of me. I do not think that you will see me any more." 

He changed his mind, after he talked with his sister, and went to 
the south instead. He finally arrived at his destination. 

Lizard said to his wife, "Your brother will be back, so the fire 
tells me." Prairie Falcon's sister said, "Our brother has returned." 

Upon his return, Prairie Falcon found that his wife had started 
for the place to which he had been. He set out again to overtake 
her. He overtook her before she arrived at her destination. Then 
they proceeded on their journey together. Prairie Falcon said, "I 
go to the place where my father died. I shall take my wife with me." 

He arrived there and found that his father, Owl, still lived. 
Prairie Falcon remained with his father. His father said to him, 
after he had stayed with him a while, "If they want your wife, give 
her to them, because she will save your life." 

Prairie Falcon's brother-in-law, Lizard, told his wife that her 
brother had gone. 



308 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Etltn. [Vol. 12 

Prairie Falcon told his wife not to come near him after they had 
arrived at their destination. "Keep away from me," he said. Lizard 
threw the tire on the ground. Prairie Falcon told his father, "Fire 
comes." His wife saw the fire coming. Prairie Falcon told his father 
to return. 

All of the ground was burned after Lizard threw the fire. Prairie 
Falcon told his wife that a large fire was coming. "We had better 
hurry or it will catch us." His wife replied that she did not believe 
him. She pulled two hairs from herself and threw them on the 
ground. They became a lake. She did this after Prairie Falcon left. 
She entered the lake and stayed in the water, while the fire burned 
around it. She swam around the lake. Finally she came out of it 
and went to her father. Upon meeting her father (Meadowlark man), 
she said, "We are safe now, the fire has gone out." Meadowlark 's 
wife said to him, "We go to the place to which Prairie Falcon has 
gone." Then they went. They obtained a large rock, which rolled 
upon the wife's leg. 

Prairie Falcon told his wife that they had arrived at their desti- 
nation. "They are going to have a game with me," he said. "If 
they win, they will kill me." 

Prairie Falcon's father. Owl, helped him. He helped Prairie 
Falcon in tin- game, which they played. Prairie Falcon called strong 
winds from every direction to help him in the race. The big wind 
came as they started the jumping contest. Prairie Falcon jumped 
about before lie jumped through the hole. He jumped through the 
hole. It snapped at him, but just missed him. He said to his wife, 
"We have gone through one place safely. Now we are going to my 
father." 

Prairie Falcon's father dreamed that his sou was coming. Prairie 
Falcon's father said that he dreamed that his son was coming. "I 
am going to meet him. He is on his way, coming to see me. He is 
coming. I think they will kill him when he arrives here." 

The people told him that his son had arrived. "We can have a 
game with him," they said. "He has arrived. He has brought his 
wife with him." Thus spoke Chief Mountain Sheep to his people. 
Mountain Sheep gave a festival in which games were played. 

Mountain Sheep said, "We are going to have a big festival. We 
are going to have a football game. Get Prairie Falcon's wife. Bring 
his wife. I like his wdfe. He can have my wife." They took Prairie 
Falcon's wife and brought another woman to him. Thev held a 



1917] Gifford: Miwok Myths 309 

festival. They told Prairie Falcon that he could have his wife back 
after the games were over. Prairie Falcon replied, "All right." 
Then, upon second thought, he said, "No. I would rather have my 
wife with me. I will send the string- of beads." Eagle said, "All 
right. I will take the beads over there. 

Tlie other girl went to Prairie Falcon, but Prairie Falcon told her 
not to come near him, told her to stay away. She slept in a different 
place. Then she went to Mountain Sheep and told him that Prairie 
Falcon did not sleep with her. Prairie Falcon's wife went to Moun- 
tain Sheep's house and stayed there overnight. Everyone liked her. 

Prairie Falcon told Gopher to dig tunnels in tin- ground on Moun- 
tain Sheep's side of the field, so that he would stumble when he ran. 
Then Gopher made tunnels in the ground. Next day they played 
football. Roadrunner helped Prairie Falcon and Dove; so did King- 
bird. They ran. Owl kicked the ball: then Prairie Falcon's side 
won. 

Next day they played more games. Prairie Falcon won the first 
game played. Owl kicked the ball; from where it landed Coyote 
kicked it ; then Dove. After that they played another game. 

Then Prairie Falcon said to his father, "Give me my arrows. 
Mountain Sheep is tired. They will kill me, father, if they win the 
game. I shall forestall them." Then he killed Mountain Sheep with 
arrows. After he had killed him, he returned home. 

He returned home to his sister. Then he told his wife that she 
should bathe. "After that we will go home," he said. Owl bathed 
her. After she had been bathed, they started for home. 

Prairie Falcon told his sister not to worry. "I have been over 
to Mountain Sheep's place," he said. "That is all for Mountain 
Sheep. I killed him, just as lie killed my father." 

Prairie Falcon came again to the hole through which he had 
passed. He called upon the winds from every direction to help him 
pass safely through it. He told his wife to cling to him tightly, when 
he jumped. His wife clasped him tightly about the waist. The hole 
opened just as he prepared to jump. Then he jumped through it. 

When he had passed to the other side of the hole, he said to his 
wife, "We are going home." Then he went to his sister's house again. 
He told her that he had killed all of the people on the other side. 

His sister told him not to talk thus while his brother-in-law 
(Lizard) was listening. Then Prairie Falcon became angry and went 
home. Then he went beyond his home. He said that he would never 



310 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol. 12 

return to that place again. He took his son with him. He did not 
sleep in his home, but went beyond it. 

He left his wife at the assembly house. He told her that he did 
not know whether he would return or not. He arrived at a large rock, 
which was his father-in-law's place. His father-in-law (Green Heron) 
asked him if he wanted anything to eat. He also asked him if he 
had won in the game. Prairie Falcon replied. "Yes, I went there 
and killed the chief." 

He stayed at his father-in-law's place for two nights. Then his 
father came to take him home. He told Prairie Falcon that his wife 
was worrying about him. Prairie Falcon came down from the large 
rock and talked with his father. He told his father that he did not 
desire to return. Then Dove and Coyote came behind him. They 
told him that they had left one and that they had not found the 
other one. Dove and Coyote were given bear hides to sit upon. Then 
they told him to marry the girl with whom he had been going. He 
did not reply. 

His father asked him what he ate, while he was traveling. He 
told his father that he had nothing to eat. His father told him that 
he would get him a quail, if he would marry. "•Quail is the only 
thing I ever eat," said Prairie Falcon to his father. His father went 
hunting. 

[Prairie Falcon's assembly house was at Goodwin's ranch near 
Montezuma in Tuolumne County. Mountain Sheep's village was at 
the south end of the world.] 

6. THE FLOOD 

Prairie Falcon told his people to prepare. He said, "Get ready. 
Eagle. Get ready, Flicker. Get ready, Dove. Get ready, Wood- 
pecker. Get ready, Quail. Get ready. Kingbird. Get ready. Hum- 
mingbird. We are going. We are going. We are going, going 
toward the north. Hurry, prepare, for we must go at once, must 
go at once, must go at once." Thus he spoke, when he told his people 
to prepare "We shall take the people. We shall take the people 
to the place where my father always goes." 

Prairie Falcon said to Eagle, "Tell everyone, Eagle. Tell every- 
one. Eagle. Have your people prepare. Tell California Jay to 
come. Tell Coyote to come. Tell Hummingbird to come. We will 
go to the top of the great mountain." 



1917] Gifford: Miwok Myths 311 

Eagle said, "We shall follow our chief to the great mountain. 
We will go there, so that we may see how the world fares. I hear 
that a flood approaches. We are all going together. Do not say 'I 
shall stay home' We are all going. Do not say 'I am sick.' Do not 
be lazy. "We are all going, going toward the north. We will arrive 
there. We will sec different sorts of people." Thus spoke the chief, 
when he told his people to prepare. 

Prairie Falcon said, "We are all going. Do not stay behind. 
Take Chief Eagle for a guide. He knows the way. Hurry, the water 
cumes. Do not stay at home, for you will drown. We are all going. 
We will try to escape from the flood." Thus spoke Prairie Falcon 
to Eagle. He continued to Eagle, "I do not think that the water 
will cover the great mountain. If we arrive there before it overtakes 
us, I think we shall be saved." 

They hurried. "The water is just coming over the bluff," said 
Coyote to Chief Prairie Falcon. Coyote saw the water coming over 
the bluff. Flicker became frightened and fainted. They called Hum- 
mingbird to save Flicker's life. 

Coyote said, "I am the only one who will drown, as I cannot run 
fast enough. One of my legs is cut off." They all went, except 
Coyote. He could not walk. He stayed on a big log as the water 
.neared him. The water reached him and he floated with the log. 
Meanwhile, the people gained the mountain top. The water over- 
whelmed everything, making great caverns in the mountains. Coyote 
on his log drifted hither and thither and finally stranded in a different 
country. The water subsided after drowning all human beings. 

Eagle said to Rattlesnake, "The flood washed us to this mountain 
top." Rattlesnake repeated this to his wife, saying, "The water 
washed those people to our mountain. 

The water rose a second time. It rose higher than ever, and it 
washed down the great mountain where the Rattlesnakes lived. Eagle 
sent Dove into the air to survey the water for another mountain, 
where they might take refuge. Then he sent Hummingbird on a 
similar quest. Hummingbird found dry land, returned, and told 
Prairie Falcon. 

"Hurry, let us go before the water overtakes us," said Prairie 
Falcon to his people, "for the water still rises." They went, taking 
Rattlesnake with them. On the way Rattlesnake bit Flicker, who was 
carrying him. They dropped Rattlesnake in the water, and he had 
to swim. He swam back to his home, which the water had not quite 



312 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Etli7i. [Vol. 12 

covered. After he arrived there, the water rose higher and completely 
covered the mountain. Rattlesnake was forced to swim again, but 
as he could not find land, he became exhausted and was drowned. 

Water flooded the entire world. At last Prairie Falcon and Eagle 
and their people arrived at a piece of dry land. There they found 
green fruit. Hummingbird told them not to eat the fruit. Then 
they sent Dove to survey the water and discover how humanity fared. 
Dove reported that all human beings were dead. 

Prairie Falcon and his people were starving upon their piece of 
dry land. Prairie Falcon again sent forth Dove and Hummingbird 
with orders to bring back some earth. He told them to obtain mud. 
He instructed Hummingbird not to suck the flowers and Dove not to 
eat the weed seed. "Do not forget to bring mud," he said, "Do not 
eat the weed seed and do not suck the flowers." The water had sub- 
sided. Prairie Falcon said, when he sent Dove and Hummingbird, 
"Do not forget to bring mud. Do not forget to bring mud." Thus 
he spoke to Dove and Hummingbird. Then the two went to obtain 
mud. This occurred after all human beings were dead, after they 
had been drowned and after the great mountains had been changed. 
Then Dove and Hummingbird went. 

7. THE REPEOPLING OF THE WORLD 

Chief Eagle said, ••Where is Coyote? Where is Coyote? He must 
try to resurrect the people. Where is Coyote? He must try to resur- 
rect the people. What shall we do about our dead people? Who is 
going to help us? Tell Coyote to think." Thus spoke the chief. 
"Tell Coyote to think intently. All human beings are dead." So 
said Eagle to Coyote. 

Coyote said, "I do not know how I shall bring them back to life." 
Thus spoke Coyote, when he answered Eagle. "But," he continued, 
"I will try to bring them back. I will try to bring them back." 

He went to the top of a rock and slept. He dreamed that he saw 
a skeleton. Then he went to the chief and told him that he had seen 
a skeleton in his dream. The chief sent him back, saying, "That may 
help us. Go back and sleep again. If you dream again do not arise. 
The skeleton may talk to you. ' ' 

Coyote said, "No one helps the chief. He feels lonely. He mourns 
each day for the dead Indians." Then Coyote dreamed of the skele- 
ton again. The skeleton awakened him and told him to sing. Tin- 
skeleton said, "If you sing, the people will return." 



1917] Clifford: Miwok Myths 313 

Coyote sang in a great cave. The skeleton told Lesisko [translated 
a.s "devil" by the interpreter] that Coyote was singing in the cave. 
Coyote sang, "Come back, all of you girls. Come back. Come back. 
Come back. Come back, all of you old people. Come back. Come 
back. Come back. Come back, all of you women. Come back. Come 
back. Come back." Thus sang Coyote, when he called the people 
back after Eagle asked him to resurrect them. 

Prairie Falcon told Coyote to try hard to bring about the return 
of mankind. Coyote sang and cried for days and nights. Eagle 
cried. He said to Prairie Falcon, "I do not think Coyote will bring 
your people back." Coyote said, "The skeleton told me that, if I 
sang loudly each morning, some of the people would return, but not 
all." Then Coyote went to the chief and said, "The skeleton told 
me that by singing loudly every morning some of the people would 
return, but not all." The chief felt a bit better after he had this 
word from Coyote. 

Coyote said, "I think that 1 shall bring my people back. I think 
that I shall." Thus he spoke, when he talked with the chief. He felt 
very happy, when he said this to the chief. Then he continued, "I 
will go back to the cave and sing." 

Then he sang. He sang in the morning. First he brought one 
old man back to life. He tried to talk to the old man, but the latter 
would not answer him. The old man did not even shake his head. 
Coyote said, "I will try some more singing." 

Coyote then visited the chief and told him, "I shall bring the 
people back, but they will not lie the same people. They will be very 
nearly the same people, but they will be a little different." The 
chief laughed. 

Then Coyote ran around the rock shouting, ran around the rock 
shouting. He felt glad that he had resurrected the people. He said. 
"I brought back my grandson. Now there are many people. Now 
there are many people. Now there are many people. I brought 
them back. Now they are nearly the same as they were before." 

Then he climbed a hill. He ran around the hills and shouted. 
He went around the hills and shouted. Eagle said, "He has made 
the same people. Coyote has done well." Thus spoke Chief Eagle, 
for he was glad to see the people alive again. Coyote still shouted 
and danced in his joy. 

The chief said to Hummingbird, "Go back and look at that moun- 
tain." Then Hummingbird went. All of the people returned. The 



314 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Etlm. [Vol.12 

chief was glad to see his people. He said that the various kinds of 
baskets must return. The chief was glad. He said, "Coyote did it 
all." The chief told Chief Prairie Falcon, "Coyote secured the re- 
turn of the people through the help of the skeleton." Then Coyote 
shouted, because he was glad that he had brought back his people. 
Thus spoke Coyote. Thus spoke Coyote. 

Chief Eagle said, "He brought back the people." Coyote said to 
Prairie Falcon, "We have saved our people. They have returned to 
their places. I have brought my people back." He told no one. He 
just thought about it, when he brought the people back. No one told 
him what to do. When he saw the people, he was glad. Coyote said, 
"I do not know what happened to us. I do not know what it was, 
that killed our old folks. I do not know whence the water came." 
Thus spoke Coyote, while he was running. 

Prairie Falcon said, when lie answered his brother, "Yes, that is 
all right." Coyote shouted and shouted, when he secured the baskets, 
various sorts of baskets, the various sorts in which the people cook. 
He shouted and shouted, after he had brought back everything to- 
gether with the people. He was glad to have his people again. Then 
he stopped shouting. He stopped shouting. He said, "It is all right. 
It is all right." But when he spoke he shouted again. Then he 
became accustomed to shouting and lie still continues to do so. Be- 
cause he was glad to see the people, he shouted. 



8. THE SEARCH FOR THE DEER 

" 'What is the matter? What is the matter? What is the trouble 
that we see no deer? Have any of you seen their tracks? We do 
not see them." That is what you people say eaeli time that you return 
from hunting. Mountain Lion, you go back and look." Thus spoke 
a number of the people before daybreak. "Look for the tracks of 
the deer," they said. "We did not see their tracks. Look for their 
tracks, Eagle. See if you can find them. Look for their tracks, 
Eagle. What shall we eat, if we do not find the deer?" So spoke the 
people. 

"Where is Fox? Where is he? We want him to find the deer. 
You hunters search for the deer." Thus spoke the people to their 
hunters. 

All went into the hills before the sunrise. Each person went on a 



1917] Gifford: Miwok Myths 315 

hill. They went on the hills toward the north, but they saw no deer, 
The deer were in several large caves. They did not come forth in the 
morning as usual. They did not appear. The hunters searched daily 
for them, but found no tracks. 

The people came together and said, "What is the matter with the 
deer? Even we cannot find their tracks." Fox, Black Fox, Mountain 
Lion, and Wild Cat held a conference. "Do not you see deer tracks?" 
they asked each other. Each responded, ' ' No. No. I do not see their 
tracks." Thus spoke each of the hunters. Thus spoke the hunters 
after the deer went into hiding in caves in the high cliffs. 

Then the hunters asked, "Where is Crow? Let him search for the 
deer. We must find them soon, or we shall starve." 

Mountain Lion said, "Where is Fox? Let him try to find the 
deer, for the hunters have very nearly given up." Fox answered, 
"I do not think that I can find them. It is useless for me to try. 
None of you hunters have found them, so what is the use of my 
trying?" Thus spoke Fox to the people. He did not wish to try, 
for all the good hunters had already tried. 

While they were assembled, they asked Mountain Lion if he had 
seen deer tracks. The people said, "We have seen no deer. We 
see but one track each day, when we go out. We see no deer, but only 
the tracks." Thus spoke the people. The deer were hiding in a 
cave. Each day one deer came forth. The deer entered the cave from 
either end. 

Fox said, "I will try, but I fear that I shall find no deer." Thus 
he spoke, when he left the people in search of the deer. He went, 
intending to do his best. He went to the south end of the world. 
Then he went around the world. He went to the place where the 
sun sets. Then he returned home. He told the people that he had 
seen no deer, that he could find none. 

Again Fox, together with Crow, journeyed through the hills in 
search of deer. Fox returned, but Crow did not. Black Fox then 
went out in place of Fox. He went up a mountain and stayed there 
overnight. Black Fox was unsuccessful, however, for the next day 
he returned without having found the deer. 

The people said, "Crow has not returned yet. He must have gone 
far. They sent Eagle and some of the people with him, saying, "You 
men try to find Crow, for he has not returned. Something must have 
happened to him." After a while Eagle, and his people returned 
without having found Crow or the tracks of the deer. The people 



316 University of California Publications In Am. Arclt. and Etltn. [Vol.12 

were starving. They had nothing to eat. Eagle said upon his return, 

"We are starving. All that we have is water." 

They next sent Wild Cat to search for the deer. Mountain Lion 
said to the second Crow, "You go. See if you can find the deer. I 
fear that if you cannot rind them, we shall die. We shall starve." 
Then Crow went. He climbed first to the top of a high hill. The 
first Crow, his brother, had not yet returned. He stood on the top 
of the high hill, which is at the end of the world. Then he returned. 
He told the people that he could not find his brother. Thus he spoke, 
when he returned. 

The chief said nothing, for lie was worrying, because his people 
were starving. The chief said nothing, but was worried. Finally, 
he said to Mountain Lion, "You go. Let us see you go." Mountain 
Lion now went to locate the deer. He followed along the creek. Upon 
his return he said, "I do not know what is the trouble. I could not 
find them. I could not even find their tracks. I do not know what 
is the matter with them. I do not know what is the matter with 
Crow." "What is he doing so long away?" the people asked. "Let 
us see you find Crow," tiny said to Fox. 

Then Fox departed, when the people told him to go. He went 
to a large rock, lie returned and told the people that he could see 
no deer. 

Then the people said that they would send the second Crow. 
"Let us see you try," they said. Then the second Crow went. He 
climbed a high mountain to the south. He saw nothing when lie 
reached the summit. Then he returned and told the chief, "I saw 
nothing. Something must have killed my brother. 1 saw no deer. I 
do not know what is the matter with them. Perhaps they have gone 
somewhere. Perhaps my brother has followed them." Then Moun- 
tain Quail went into the hills. But he, too, returned and told the 
chief that hi' saw nothing. 

Then they sent the second Crow again with instructions to remain 
two days in the hills and to see if he could find his brother. Crow 
left before sunrise and climbed to the top of a high mountain before 
the sun rose. The sun rose after he reached the summit. Then he 
looked down the mountain and saw a large cave. After lie had seen 
the cave, he went down the mountain towards the water. After reach 
ing the water, he prepared to drink. Then he did not drink. He 
returned home and told the people that he had seen a cave. He said. 
"After I discovered the cave, I went towards the water down the 



1917] Gifford: Miwolc Myths 317 

hill. I intended to drink. However, I did not drink the water after 
I reached it. I thought about my brother and that is why I came 
home. I think the deer arc in that cave" 

Then the chiefs dismissed the matter after Crow told them of 
the cave. He returned to the hill before sundown. Then he saw 
the deer entering the cave after sundown. 

The chiefs assembled the people and. while Crow remained on 
the mountain, they gave a dance. All of the people, all of the hunters, 
assembled. They said, "Chief Crow has found the cave." Crow 
sang while he remained on the summit. He sang, " 1 bested the other 
hunters. 1 found the deer. We shall not starve now." Thus sang 
Crow after lie found the deer. He returned and told the chief about 
tic dee]-, told the chief about them, when lie arrived at home. All 
of the people assembled. Chief Mountain Lion said. "'We are saved 
now, because we have found the deer. I shall take my son. I shall 
pul him to the test." lb' said that he was going to test the courage 
of his son. He placed his son within tin' cave. He put the people 
all around the cave in different places. He closed the exits of the 
cave. He did not want the deer to escape, so he closed the exits. He 
placed the people all over the hills, so that they might kill the deer 
as they came forth from the cave. 

Wolf and Coyote came to help kill the deer. After Mountain 
Lion had everything ready, he sent his sou inside of the eave to kill 
the deer. Then his son entered the cave. Young Mountain Lion went 
in to show his prowess. His father stayed outside. Then young 
Mountain Lion commenced to fighl with the deer, but he fainted from 
the heat within the cave. His father entered and brought him out and 
laid him beside the stream. While he was rescuing his son. the deer 
escaped. They ran out on the other side of the cave, but encountered 
Wolf. Wolf started to pursue them, but he collided with a rock. 
Next the deer encountered Coyote further down the hill. They 
jumped over Coyote, but he pursued them, until his legs caught on a 
rock and he fell backwards. Some of the deer ran up the hill, where 
there was a band of people. They ran over all of the people and no 
one killed a deer. The people were starving and one of them died. 

One of them died and the others felt very weak. They did not 
know what to do after the deer escaped. The chief said to his people, 
"Let us go home." Some of the people said to the chief, "We do 
not think that we shall reach home; we are starving." Then the 
chief went alone. He left his son beside the creek, left him there 
sinking. 



318 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol.12 

While proceeding along the creek, the chief met Skunk. Skunk 
asked the chief to stop for a while. Then Skunk said to the chief, 
''Let rne ride on your back. I will dance on your back." The chief 
was not agreeable. He said, "You had better walk. I am not strong 
enough to carry you. I am starving. My people are dying." Skunk- 
said, "Do not say that. If you say that I shall die. Give me a ride 
on your back and I will do you a favor." 

Then the chief heard from the second Crow. The Indians were 
dying daily, starving to death, as they had nothing to eat. The chief 
said to Skunk, "I am going. I am going." Skunk besought again, 
" Let me ride on your back. Then I will save some of your people." 
The chief replied, "Come on, then." They went. Skunk riding on 
the chiefs back. 

The people were dying rapidly. Crow said, "The chief is return- 
ing." The chief was coming. The chief told Skunk to hang on tight. 
He said, "I am going to wade this river." Skunk said, "I do not 
care if all your people die, so long as I get this ride on your back 
across the river." The chief became angry when Skunk said that. 
"Get on, we are going to cross the river," said the chief. When they 
reached the middle of the river, the chief pretended to stumble. He 
fell down and Skunk lost his hold. Skunk drowned. The chief went 
on across the river. 

As soon as lie had crossed the river, lie looked up the hill. He 
saw the first Crow descending the hill with a load of deer. Crow 
told the chief, "I killed many deer on the creek." The chief told 
Crow that all of the people had died. "That is Skunk's fault." said 
the chief. ' ' He told me he would save my people. ' ' Crow said, ' ' Your 
remaining people will be saved, for we have plenty of meat now. 
Thus spoke Crow to the chief, when he met him on the bank of the 
river. 

9. SALAMANDER AND CHIPMUNK 
Salamander said to Chipmunk, "Let me go to see my house. This 
same thing has been here for a long while. My son-in-law has been 
in this condition all the time. I could not get the big deer. I tried 
my best to kill him. I tried and tried to break his neck. I could not 
break it and he escaped from me. I could not kill that big deer. He 
eseaped from me. I could not take that big deer. I could not take 
him. It frightened me, when I could not take him. I tried. I tried 
to break his neck. You had better tell mv son-in-law. ' ' 



1917] Gifford: Miwok Myths 319 

Chipmunk said, "My father is lost, is lost, is lost because of Sala- 
mander's troubles." Thus spoke Chipmunk, when he started to 
seareli for his father. They were a long time finding ids father's 
tracks. They found only old tracks on the rocks. When he found his 
father's tracks on the rocks he cried. He said, "I do not think my 
brother knows that his father is lost." So spoke Chipmunk to his 
son. He tried to find more tracks, but could not. 

They crossed the creek and sought his father's tracks there. Across 
the creek he saw a large deer which he followed a long distance up 
the creek. 

There he met two women. He stopped when he saw them 
approaching. He tried to leave the trail. Then he stopped. He did 
not want to go farther. "Let us catch him," the women said, "He 
is going to pass near us. We will not let him pass." 

Chipmunk said, "Get away, please. I am searching for my 
father." He tried his best to push the two women from the path, but 
they would not move. Again he tried to pass between them, but they 
would not leave the trail. He did not want to do it, but again he 
tried to go between them. Then they caught him. 

They called to their father to come down the mountain and help 
to take him up. "Father, we have caught a man, who is looking for 
his father. He lias been searching and has had nothing to eat for 
ten days." Then their father came to help them take their prisoner 
home. "Keep your father away from me," Chipmunk said to the 
girls. "1 do not want him to come near me." 

"I think this is my last chance to attempt to escape from you girls. 
I wonder if my brothers know that I am going to be lost. This is my 
own fault. I should not have been caught, if I had not been looking- 
for my father. I think they did the same thing to my father." 

The girls called, "Father, throw a rope, throw a rope. We have 
caught our man." Thus they called to their father when they wanted 
him to throw them a rope. Thus they called, when they caught Chip- 
munk and when they told their father to throw a rope. 

"He is my man, sister. He is my man," the younger sister said 
to the older. The younger one shouted again to her father, "Throw 
that rope. Hurry. We have our man. We have our man. I do 
not know what we shall feed him. ' ' Thus spoke the younger Deer girl, 
when she turned into a real woman. 

"Throw, and throw, and throw that rope, father. I have my man. 
Mine. .My man. Father, father, throw that rope. We must bring 



320 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ellin. [Vol. 1- 

hini up there I do not know what I shall feed him. I do not know 
what he eats. " 

Their father said. "My children, my children. My poor girls have 
caught their man. I do not know where they found him." Thus he 
spoke, when he threw the rope. He was glad to hear his daughter 
tell him to throw the rope. lie said, ''I do not know, I do not know, I 
do not know what they will feed him." Thus spoke the old man to 
his daughters. He was glad to have a son-in-law, for he was becoming 
old. Thus sang old Deer. He continued, "I do not know where, I 
do not know where, 1 do not know where they will keep him. 1 do 
not know where they will keep my son-in-law." So spoke the old man. 
when he saw his son-in-law. Thus he spoke, thus he spoke, when he 
felt glad that his daughters were considering marriage. He was so 
happy over his son-in-law, that he danced and sang. 

"I have my man. I have my man," the girls said, when they 
talked to their father and told him to throw them the rope. '*I want 
to bring him up there. Throw me the rope, father. 1 do not know 
what 1 shall feed him, when I get him up there. 1 have all sorts of 
things for him to eat, hut I do not know what he eats." Tims they 
spoke after they caught Chipmunk, after they caught him. while he 
was travelling everywhere. "Father, throw that rope. Throw it. 
I am going to catch my man." Thus she spoke, when she told her 
father to throw the rope. "I have my man," she said, when she 
talked to her father at the top of the sky. 

"Let us search for our brother," said Brown Bird to Tuyipitina 
[another bird]. He spoke thus while hi' sang in the middle of the 
water. Thus spoke Brown Bird, when he chased the deer after he 
had missed Chipmunk. "Get ready." he said, "We will search for 
our brother." Then Brown Bird and Tuyipitina went. They alighted 
on the horn of a deer and remained there. Brown Bird alighted on 
the horn a bit higher than Tuyipitina. "We have obtained the deer 
for which our brother has searched," said Brown Bird to Tuyipitina. 
The deer ran with Brown Bird and Tuyipitina. The two of them could 
not hold him. Brown Bird sai'd, "Let us go. let us go." This hap- 
pened in the night. 

Chipmunk said, "I do not know who has captured me. I do not 
know where they will take me. I do not know where they will take 
me." Thus he spoke as the girls tied him. Thus he spoke while they 
tied him with the rope. He thought that it was to be his last time 
upon earth. "I do not know if anyone will find me," he said. "It 



1917] Gifford: Miwok Mytlis 321 

is" Salamander's fault that I am caught. If I escape I shall even the 
score with Salamander." Thus he spoke after they took him to the 
sky. 

He did not know how to escape. When he arrived there, he saw 
many deer. He was surprised to see so many deer. He sang. He 
sang there. He sang. He did not know where he was. lie was 
afraid after they brought him there. 

They cooked and ( ked, cooked many kinds of seeds such as we 

[the Miwok] eat. The girls said, as they were about to feed him, 
"Tell them to cook one kind of seed for him." Chipmunk did not 
want to eat seeds. There were all sorts of seeds, hut he did not want 
them. They tried to feed him many kinds of seeds. In despair the 
girls said to each other, "I do not know what he likes to eat." They 
did not know what lie liked to eat. 

One of the girls told the deer. "Here is this one, who always 
searches for us." All of the deer looked at Chipmunk. "I do not 
know, I do not know. I do not know what we shall feed him," said one 
of the Deer girls. "I fear we shall starve him." Thus they spoke, 
when they gave him the seed to eat. 

"Take it away from me. Do not plaee it near me." said Chip- 
munk, for the seed did not smell good to him. They did not put the 
seed near him. Chipmunk said, "You girls might just as well let me 
eat your father. I am getting hungry. I might just as well eat your 
father. I shall eat your father. There is no use trying to save him. 
The old man is pretty poor, hut I shall eat him just the same." 

"Our father is across the way," said the girls. "Let me see how 
I can shoot with my how and arrow," said Chipmunk. Then he began 
to sing and old Deer became fat. Old Deer became so fat that he 
could scarcely walk. Chipmunk continued singing. That was all he 
ditl. Finally he arose. He took one arrow with him. Then he knelt, 
the two girls holding him. He shot old Deer with the arrow. Deer 
was old, but he was fat. 

One girl on each side held him after he killed their father. They 
watched him, as he removed the fat and hide from old Deer. He 
intended to make garments of the hide. 

"That is the way they treat us," said the girls as they watched 
Chipmunk skinning their father. All of the deer were watching 
Chipmunk. Chipmunk tried to keep the girls away from then- 
father's body. He said, "Keep away, girls. Keep away. You might 
step in the blood of your father." 



322 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol. 12 

"I do not know where I shall go, after I have eaten this Deer," 
said Chipmunk. "If I do not leave this place, I think I must kill 
more." Thus spoke Chipmunk to himself. "I shall try my best to 
leave this place." 

Chipmunk's older brother searched for him. He travelled all 
over the world, travelled to the edge of the world, looking for his 
brother. His older brother said, while he searched for him, "I do 
not know what has happened to my brother. I find him nowhere." 
Meanwhile Chipmunk ate the deer. The other deer stood about 
watching him. He ate and sang at the same time, while his brother 
searched for him all over the world. 

Chipmunk's older brother said, "My brother, my brother. I do 
not know where he has gone." Thus he spoke as he travelled about 
the world in search of Chipmunk. He travelled night and day with- 
out food in search of his brother. 

At last he arrived at the place where the Deer women had cap- 
tured Chipmunk. His leg became entangled in some of the rope which 
they had dropped when they tied Chipmunk. He knew what had 
happened to his brother, when he found the rope. He cried and he 
cried, when he discovered what had happened to his brother. "I 
fear they killed my brother after they took him up there," he said. 
He cried, he cried, and he cried. He did not know how to climb to 
the sky, where his brother had been taken. "While he cried, he said, 
"I shall try to climb somehow. If I reach that place, I will put 
the deer to sleep. 

He went there in the night, crying all the way while lie climbed. 
He found his brother. He said, "We are going home. We are going 
home." When he spoke thus, he cried anew. Then Chipmunk cried, 
when he saw his brother cry. 

Chipmunk told his brother to cry no more, "For," he said, "I 
am still safe." His older brother sang, while he put the deer to 
sleep. "We are going. We are going. Get ready, " he said. He 
brought a bow and arrows. Then he said to his younger brother, 
"You get on one end of this arrow. We are going." Then he shot 
two arrow's. His brother hung to one and he hung to the other. The 
arrows struck at their home. Thus he brought his brother back. 

He continued to cry after he had brought his brother home. He 
said to him, "You had better stay home. You had better stay home. 
Never hunt again." Thus he spoke to his brother and it made his 
brother cry. "Don't ever go into the hills again." Thus he spoke 



1917] Gifford: Miwok Myths 323 

to his younger brother. Chipmunk. "Don't ever go into the hills 
again. Do not go into the hills any more. They might eatch you 
again." Thus spoke the older brother to Chipmunk. 

Chipmunk said, "I was caught because of Salamander. All of 
this trouble is his fault. Salamander got me into this trouble. I 
will have revenge upon him, when I reach home." He was crying, 
as he walked toward his house. He sang also as he walked toward 
his house. He said to himself, ""When I enter my house, I shall build 
a fire." 

Salamander lay beside the fire. Chipmunk said to him, "I shall 
kill you. I shall throw you into the tire. You might just as well take 
your last breath now." Thus he spoke to Salamander after he had 
built the fire. He lifted him to throw him into the fire. He said to 
Salamander, "You are the fellow who deceived me. You told me 
that you saw large deer. Von may just as well take your last breath 
on this spot." Thus he spoke when he threw Salamander into the 
fire. Thus he sang after he had thrown Salamander into the tire. 

Chipmunk said, "I shall leave, leave this place. I shall stay here 
no longer." Thus he spoke, when he left. "I shall never return to 
this place. I am going, I am going to my home. I am going to my 
home to eat that which 1 always eat." While he proceeded home- 
ward, he sang about the fund which he would eat in his home. "I 
am going home, I am going home," he said, as he journeyed up tin- 
mountains toward his home. Thus he sang, as he journeyed toward 
his home. Thus he spoke, as he walked up the trail toward his 
home. Thus he sang, as he went over the trail at night. He looked 
for large deer as he went home in the night. He arrived at 
home about sunrise, reaching the house where dwelt his brother and 
his sister. He said to himself, "I have reached home. I am now 
with my brother and sister. Now 1 am safe. I shall worry no more." 
He was glad to be home. 



10. LIZARD AND FOX 

Lizard said, "I am going to see the worms." "Do not come near 
me. Do not come near me," said Worm. "You do not smell 
good," Lizard said, when he saw Worm. "Keep away from me. Keep 
away from me. Do not come near me. Keep away from me. Keep 
away from me. I do not want that grass after it is cooked. It does 
not smell good." Worm was on the fire. "I did not like him after I 



324 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Elhn. [Vol.12 

had a good look at him," said Lizard. He said that from the top 
of a big log. He did not like to drink water He did not want to 
drink water. Water did not smell good. "Keep away. Keep away. 
Tarantula. That grass smells bloody," Lizard said. He spoke thus. 
because he did not like grass. 

Thus spoke Lizard when he sang about his food below. "I am 
going below,"' said Lizard. "I go there to eat worms. Then I will 
return and see where Fox is going to hunt.' Tims sang Lizard from 
the top of the log. 

Lizard did not like seed. He did not like grass. Thus he sang 
from the top of the log. When Tarantula brought him food, he said, 
"Keep away from me. Keep away from me. I do not like grass. I 
would rather eat worms below." Thus sang Lizard about his food 
below. 

Tarantula asked Lizard, "Why don't you like the food that I 
eat?" Lizard replied, "It does not smell good to me. I am going. 
I am going. The ground is damp below." 

"Be sure to return." said Tarantula, "for Fox is going to hunt." 
"1 go below to eat worms," said Lizard, "1 shall return." Thus 
spoke Lizard when he was starving. "I am going below, then I will 
return. There is no food for me here." Tarantula said, "You must 
surely return, because Fox is preparing to hunt in the hills." 

Fox was preparing to hunt. He said. "1 wonder if Mountain Lion 
is ready? Are all of you hunters ready? Mountain Quail may go 
with us. Skunk may go with us. Coyote may go with us. Wolf may 
go with us. We are going to hunt deer. Put Skunk on the lower side 
of the hill. Dove may go with lis. Hummingbird may go with us. 
They may all run on the hill. Crow may go with us. " 

"I shall kill a large deer," said Mountain Lion, when Fox told 
him that he might hunt. Mountain Lion continued, "Confine Night 
Hawk, for he is likely to steal from us, if we leave the camp. I am 
going ahead. 1 know where the big deer stay. Do not take Night 
Hawk with you, because he might take a whole deer in his mouth. 
I shall kill a large deer for us. 1 shall kill no small deer," boasted 
Mountain Lion. So spoke Mountain Lion, when he prepared to hunt 
for the large deer. He said, "I am going into the hills ahead of the 
rest, to get a large deer for us." 

Mountain Quail said, "I will break the neck of the large deer. 
1 will break the neck. I will break it, I will break it." Thus spoke 
Mountain Quail before he started. He continued, "You people can- 



1917] Gifford: Uiwol Myths 325 

not enter the brush. 1 will enter the brush. I fear nothing. I do 
not think that you people arc brave enough to enter the brush. I 
shall enter the brush between those large mountains. 1 shall break 
his neek. I shall break his neck, when I meet him in the brush, when 
I meet the large deer in the brush. I think that the rest of you are 
not brave enough to enter the brush between those great mountains. 
I am the one who always enters the brush." So spoke Mountain 
Quail, while he travelled toward the brush between those great moun- 
tains. "I am going into that brush. I think you people are afraid 
to enter that brush, for fear that you might meel a bear." So spoke 
Mountain Quail. 

Bald Eagle said. '"I am going too. I shall kill a large deer also. 
I do not think you people can find a large deer. 1 do not think you 
can fan the large deer. I do not think you can fan the large deer. 
When I fan him, I shall put him to sleep. Thru 1 shall kill him. You 
tried to get ahead of me by leaving me behind. You must think that 
I am too old. I shall fan the hie- deer with my two wines, from both 
sides of the hill. From both sides I will fan him with my two wines. 
I am going. I am going to help you find the deer. I know where the 
deer stay. I will find them before you do. I shall fan the large deer 
with my two wines. When I see one I shall put him to sleep. I 
shall fan him. I shall fan him." Thus spoke Bald Eagle, when he 
prepared to hunt, when he told the .Mountain Lion to prepare. Thus 
he spoke. Thus he spoke. "I am going. You people stay on each 
side of the creek and I will fan him with both wings from the middle." 

Wolf said, "1 shall chase him until 1 run him down. I shall chase 
the fawns, which sneak away from the hie- ones. If they escape from 
you hunters, 1 will chase them." So spoke Wolf, as he prepared to 
hunt with Mountain Lion. "I will run them over the hills. Just 
watch me. I will collect the deer in one place. I will run from sun- 
down until sunrise, so that you hunters can kill them while I sleep. 
I will gather them in the night. Then when you start, send Skunk 
to me. If they escape from you, awaken me and I w r ill pursue them 
until 1 capture them," said Wolf. 

Coyote said, "1 shall be there when the deer run. I shall eat them, 
while they run. There is no use of you hunters running, while I am 
there. You know that I am a good runner. If the deer get away 
from you, I shall chase them. I shall chase them. I shall chase them. 
I shall chase them. I shall chase them whether the ground is rough 
or smooth. I shall capture them just the same." So spoke Coyote 



326 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol. 12 

before the party set out. "I will bite the leg of the deer while he 
runs. The deer will have no chance to escape," said Coyote. 

"I shall go with you, for I can find the deer in any place. I can 
find them anywhere. I know how to find them. I shall look down 
from the hills just before sunrise. I can find more deer than all of 
3'ou. I will eat nothing but deers' eyes," said Crow, for he was very 
fond of them. "When we hunt, I shall find the deer for you. I 
know how to find them. When we return, all that you need give me 
are the deers' eyes. Perhaps j'ou do not believe that I can find deer. 
I can find the deer before sunrise or after sundown. Eagle thinks 
that he is the only one who can find deer. I shall go with you. I 
shall find those deer for you. I excel Eagle in finding deer." 

Fox prepared the men to hunt. He said, "We are going. Get 
ready. Get ready. Get ready, Mountain Quail. Get ready, Eagle. 
Get ready, Coyote. Get ready, Wolf. Awaken Skunk, prepare him, 
for he must walk on the side of the hill. Keep track of Night Hawk. 
Keep him hidden, for he is likely to swallow a whole deer." So spoke 
Fox, when he became the head chief and when he prepared his people 
for the hunt. "Gather Mountain Lion, Coyote, and Wolf on one side 
of the hill in an open place. They are good hunters." 

Black Fox said, "I always go into the difficult places. I am 
going, too. I am going into the middle of the brush, when we hunt. 
I shall scent the deer from there. I shall enter the deep canyons and 
look for their tracks." So spoke Black Fox. Mountain Lion warned 
him, "You must be careful, when you enter the hills." "I fear noth- 
ing," Black Fox retorted. "I will enter the thickest brush. I will 
enter the brush and drive out the deer." So spoke Black Fox to 
Fox. Fox said that he was ready to start whenever his men were. 
"You must keep the big deer separate," he said to Black Fox. Black 
Fox said, "I shall start ahead and enter the hills. When you are 
ready, send Mountain Quail to awaken me. ' ' 

Skunk said, "Just watch me hunt. I am going out to kill deer. 
I get them from both sides. After you have separated the large deer, 
tell me where they are and I will eject my fluid upon them. I will 
kill them all. I will make the fluid, which I eject upon them, very 
strong. But I want someone to carry me, because I cannot walk fast. 
I will have a load on me, anyway. I want to be sure to get a number 
of deer with my fluid. From the north side, I will eject my fluid. 
From the west side, I will eject. From the east side, I will eject. 
From the south side, I will eject. After you have gathered the deer, 



1917] Gilford: Miwol Myths 327 

carry me to the place where they are. I will take my son-in-law 
with me. I will dance on the top of a small rock, singing my song." 

Dove said, ' ' I shall eat seed before I go. I shall eat seed before I 
go. I shall run. I shall run after I eat the seed. You people cannot 
run. You stay in the brush." Thus spoke Dove to Chief Fox. "If 
a deer escapes from you, I shall capture him," continued Dove. "If 
you people eat the deer, I shall eat the seed. I shall help you to 
obtain the deer." When Dove was ready, he said, "Let us go. Let 
Hummingbird come with me." Dove took Hummingbird with him, 
when he went ahead of the rest of the part. He said to Humming- 
bird, "Let us race. "We will see who kills a deer first. Let us race. 
Let us race." Hummingbird accepted the challenge. 

Hummingbird said, "When I ran a race with Dove, I travelled 
quite fast. We were just about even at the end. I will try to eat 
the seeds that Dove eats. I will also eat flowers. I shall run another 
race with him. I shall run a race with him to the end of the world. 
I shall not go only to the middle of the world in my race with Dove. 
I shall race him to the end of the world. When he and I race, it 
is a tie. I shall run a race to the end of the world. If he ties me 
again, then he and I will travel together for all time. If he ties me, 
he and I will return and help Fox to kill the deer. He and I eat the 
seeds and flowers. Let him try the flowers and I will try the seeds." 

Fox said, "Tell Hummingbird not to get in the middle. Tell 
him not to get in the middle. The men had better not travel too fast 
at first, for they will have plenty of running after we enter the hills." 
So spoke Chief Fox, when he prepared his hunters. He said to Moun- 
tain Lion and to Eagle, "Get ready. Take up certain stations, where 
the deer come out." He told Wolf to take his station near a place 
where the deer always come out. "Dove and Hummingbird are to 
run first," he told Chief Mountain Lion. Chief Fox told his men 
to get ready, when he prepared to hunt deer. "I see that all of you 
are willing to hunt," he said. 

Brown Wren said, "Coyote and I shall race. I do not think that 
Coyote can beat me running. When I come home, I will race with 
California Jay. I will see how fast Jay can run. Jay and I will try 
each other in a shooting contest, to see who is the better, -lay and I 
will shoot at each other with arrows to see who can jump about the 
quicker. If he excels me at jumping, then perhaps he can hit me. 
I shall shoot four arrows and he will shoot four. I shall give him the 
first shot. Then I will shoot at him. I do not know who will be next 



328 University i<f California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ellin. [Vol.12 

in the running of races. I fear that Jay will not get out of the 
way in time, when I use my arrow." 

California Jay said, "1 do not think that you can hit me. You 
can try and try. Thus I will sing, when I dodge your arrows. Tims 
I will do, when 1 tire you. I do not believe that you can hit me. I 
eat nothing' hut acorns. That is what makes me so lively. If I am 
seated, when the deer come out of the brush, I am not going- to arise. 
I will kill the deer without arising. Thus I will handle the deer, when 
they come out of the brush. Are you a good dodger? Are you a good 
dodger? You are going to fight me with the arrow," he said to Brown 
Wren. "1 shall dodge you while I am seated. I shall dodge you 
while I am seated. I do not think that you can hit me after I have 
arranged my hair. You can try. You can try, but you will find 
that I am a good dodger." 

Turkey Vulture said, "That is the way I shall do, when 1 put the 
deer to sleep. Thus shall 1 do. Thus shall I do. I shall look for the 
deer in the hills. Thus shall I do, when I hunt them in the brush. 
You will find them, when the blood turns into a rainbow. Then you 
will find them. 1 shall do my best. I shall do my best to be the first 
to obtain a deer. If I find dead deer after you return home, I shall 
eat them." Thus spoke Turkey Vulture. Thus he spoke, as they 
journeyed into the hills and as he looked for dead animals in the 
hills. He continued, "I find the dead animals from the high moun- 
tains. When I see the blood, 1 shall come and tell you. When I look 
for deer, I wheel in one place. When the sun rises, you will see 
the blood turn into a rainbow." So spoke Turkey Vulture to Fox. 

Turtle said, "I will obtain water for the men when they are in 
the hills. I will obtain water for them, when they hunt. I will obtain 
water to wash the intestines. I will carry water for the hunters. I 
always carry water. I do not have to hunt with the men." Thus 
spoke Turtle, as he returned to the water. "I shall get no deer. I 
shall get no deer,' he said. Turtle always carried water for the 
hunters. He always carried water. He knows how to carry water. 
He sings all the while, that he carries water. All that he does is to 
sing beside the water. He sings that he is to carry water. 

Fox told his hunters to go and they all departed. All of the deer 
passed by Pox. All of the deer passed by Fox. He paid no atten- 
tion to them, but just watched them. The deer scattered. Each of 
the other hunters obtained one. Most of the deer passed by Fox. He 
just watched them until the last came. As the last one approached. 



1917] Gifford: Miwol Myths 329 

lie put his arrow in the bow and shot it. The arrow passed through 
the deer and penetrated all of the deer that were in line In four 
gulches were four different deer that Pox killed. That many deer he 
obtained with one arrow. The feat showed that Fox was a better 
hunter than the others. 

Then Skunk visited his son-in-law (Fox), while they skinned the 1 
deer. He said to his son-in-law, "May 1 ride on top of the pack, when 
you carry it.'" Thus spoke Skunk to his son-in-law. His son-in-law 
replied, "You will he too heavy on top of the deer. I have all that 
I can carry without you." So said Pox to Skunk. 

Skunk became angry. He said to his son-in-law. "Don't say that 
to me. If you don't carry me. I will eject my fluid upon you." Fox 
retorted. "Don't say that to me. I will kill you. Don't eject your 
fluid upon me. If you do, I will kill you. I will kill you with an 
arrow." "Don'1 say that." said Skunk. "I do not wish to die. 
There is no one here to help me, if you shoot me with an arrow." 

Fox said to Skunk. "Night Hawk has the largest deer in his mouth. 
Hurry, help me skin this deer, or Night Hawk will get them all. Be- 
fore we started 1 told you to leave Night Hawk home." Fox went 
to prevent Night Hawk from eating the Largest deer. Night Hawk 
told Fox that he had nothing in his mouth. "The only thing' I have 
in my mouth is something which belongs to my uncle. I have nothing 
of yours in my mouth." So said Night Hawk, when Fox threatened 
to kill him. Fox threatened to kill him, if he did not return the 
deer. While Fox was talking to Night Hawk, Skunk skinned the 

(leer. 

11. VALLEY QUAIL'S ADVENTUEES 

"I am going to visit my father," said young Valley Quail, "I 
am going up the mountain to visit my father. Give me my father's 
•poison.' " His father's "poison" consisted of yellowjackets and 
other stinging- insects, which he kept in a hag. "I am going up the 
mountain," said young Quail. 

He tried his father's poison. He said to himself, "I will try it and 
discover how my father uses it." That is what young Quail said 
when he saw the deer. He saw a large hand of deer. Then he 
opened his bag of yellowjackets. When he opened it, they flew to 
the deer and killed them. He killed all of the deer in trying his 
father's poison. 

"No one will bother me," said young Quail. Then he went up 
the mountains through the deep canyons and forests. 



330 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Etlin. [Vol. 12 

He found Coyote. Coyote saw him and asked him what he carried 
in the bag. He told Coyote that he carried his father's poison. Coy- 
ote did not believe him and told young Quail that he was too small to 
carry poison. "I think you have something good to eat in that bag," 
said Coyote. Young Quail retorted, "No, I have nothing good to eat. 
If I open this bag, you will die. I am taking this poison to my 
father." 

Coyote was not satisfied, but begged young Quail to open the bag. 
Quail became angry and gave Coyote the bag, telling him to open 
it and eat what he found within. When Coyote opened it, the yellow- 
jackets Hew out and stung him to death. Then young Quail called his 
poison back into the bag. All of the yellowjackets entered the bag 
at his request. He proceeded upon his way. 

Next he met a bear. He said to himself, "I do not know what I am 
going to do with that bear. I do not think my poison will kill him. 
I will try it, anyhow." So saying, he opened the bag. The yellow- 
jackets flew to the bear, to a number of bears under the trees. The 
yellowjackets killed all of the bears. Then young Quail recalled 
them. 

He did not know which way to go after the yellowjackets had 
returned to the bag. lie was very tired, but he said. "I will continue 
on my way." Proceeding farther, he found a mountain lion in a 
large tree. He did not know what to do when he saw the mountain 
lion. He said, "Mountain lion will eat me, I fear." Then he sat on 
a rock. He feared to pass the tree in which the mountain lion sat. 
He said to himself, "I think I shall not reach my father's place. I 
fear this mountain lion will kill me. I do not know what to do. I 
think that this animal in the tree is the one my father has always 
warned me about. I think this is a mountain lion, the kind that 
slaps people. I fear that I cannot kill him, but I will try." He 
turned loose his yellowjackets. They killed the mountain lion. After 
he had killed the mountain lion, he recalled his yellowjackets. 

"That is the way I will do to anything that attempts to hurt me." 
Then he proceeded upon his way. He found a spring between two 
large rocks. Just as he stooped to drink he saw a mountain sheep. 
He said to himself, "Mountain sheep is all that my father eats. I 
think that I will try to kill this one." Then he opened his bag. 
The yellowjackets flew to the mountain sheep and stung him to death. 
He went over to look at the mountain sheep after he had killed him. 
The mountain sheep, being dead, was unable to attack him. Young 
Quail called his yellowjackets into the bag and went on his way. 



1917] Gifford: Miwok Myths 331 

After he had gone a distance, he found a rattlesnake. "I do not 
know what I shall do with him," said young- Quail. "I think this is 
rattlesnake, of which my father has told me. At any rate, I will 
try to kill him." So saying he opened the bag and sent the yellow- 
jackets to the rattlesnake. After they had killed the rattlesnake, he 
called them back, called them back. 

After his yellowjackets had re-entered the bag, he journeyed until 
he came to the immense rattlesnake Hamaua. "I do not know what I 
shall do now. Hamaua reaches almost a quarter of the distance to 
my father's place. I fear he will kill me here. I do not know what 
to do. I do not know what I shall do. I will try to kill him with 
my father's poison. Then he released the yellowjackets. They killed 
Hamaua. After he killed Hamaua, he said, "My father always takes 
the skin of Hamaua. I think I will take it too." He skinned Hamaua. 
After he had taken the skin, he called the yellowjackets back. 

Then he continued up the mountain. He saw another mountain 
sheep much larger than the one which he had already killed. ' ' I 
think I will kill that one. I think I will try to kill him. That is a 
mountain sheep, for which my father always searches." 

He next met a band of black bears. He became so frightened that 
he climbed a tree. "I will try to kill them," he said, "but I fear that 
I cannot." Then he opened his bag and released his yellowjackets. 
They pursued the bears and made them run. Then they killed all 
of the bears. After they had killed the bears, he called them back into 
the bag and then continued up the mountain. 

At last he arrived at his father's house. His father asked, "Who 
brought you?" Young Quail replied, "I came alone. I felt lonely 
below. I worried every day about you." 

His father asked him if he had not seen something coming up 
the road. Young Quail replied, "I killed many things." His father 
asked him if he had seen Hamaua. Then his father asked him if he 
had skinned Hamaua. He told his father that he had. Young Quail 
said, "You always told me to test those yellowjackets. when I came 
to see you. 1 tried them and killed everything that I saw. I brought 
this poison to you." 

His father asked him what he proposed to do with the yellow- 
jackets, asked him if he wanted them for himself. "If you want to 
try my poison, you may do so," his father said. Young Quail then 
proceeded up the mountain beyond his father's home. He found a 
bear and killed it in the usual way. II is father watched him. At first 
his father said, "I do not know how he will do it." Then young Quail 



332 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol. 12 

turned loose his yellowjackets. His father laughed aud asked him if 
that was what he did as he came up the road. "Who taught you?" 
asked his father. "How do you recall the yellowjackets?'' Young 
Quail replied, "I recall them. Nobody taught me. I learned by my- 
self. You did not teach me."' 

Then his father stopped questioning him and told him that he 
might do whatever he pleased. Young Quail replied, "I will return 
tomorrow the same way that I came. I just came up to see how you 
were faring, so that I might stop worrying about you." His father 
said, "All right, you may return, but I would rather keep you here 
with me. However, I suppose you like it better below. All right, 
you may go tomorrow." Young Quail said, "But I will return to 
see you. I will go back the same way. I shall arrive home sometime 
if nothing happens to me on the way. 

[The story-teller said that young Quail started from his camp on 
the west side of the San Joaquin River and visited his father, who 
lived high in the Sierra Nevada.] 



STORIES BY WILLIAM FULLER 

12. THE THEFT OF FIRE 

Lizard saw the smoke. He said: "Smoking below, smoking below, 
smoking below, smoking below. My grandmother starts a fire to cook 
acorns. It is very lonely." 

Flute-player (Mouse) was sent down the mountains into the valley 
to secure the fire. Flute-player departed, taking with him two flutes. 
He finally arrived at the assembly house from which the smoke was 
issuing. He found it crowded, but he was welcomed and the people 
persuaded him to play. He played and he played. 

Then they put a feather mat over the smoke hole at the top of the 
house and shut the feathers in the door. They closed the door with 
the feather dress. They told the doorkeeper to close the door tight. 

Flute-man played continuously. The people fell asleep and snored. 
Flute-player remained awake and played. Finally, he concluded that 
all were fast asleep. He arose and took two coals from the fire, plac- 
ing them in his flute. Then he put two coals in the second flute. He 
proceeded to the door, cut loose the feathers, passed out, and started 
homeward. 



1917] Clifford: Miwoh Myths 333 

The people awoke to find him gone and with him the fire. Hail 
and Rain were sent in pursuit, for they were the two swiftest travellers 
among the valley people. Hail went, but Flute-man heard Hail and 
Rain coming, so he threw one of his flutes under a buckeye tree. 
Rain asked him what he had done with the fire. "You stole our fire," 
Rain said. Flute-player denied it. Then Rain returned home. The 
placing of the flute, with the coals in it, under the buckeye tree 
resulted in the fire always being in the buckeye. 

When Rain started back, Flute-man took his fire from under the 
buckeye and again proceeded homeward. He arrived at home safely 
and brought the fire into the assembly house. He told the people that 
Rain had taken one flute with coals in it. He said, "Rain took one 
flute from me. I have only one left. ' ' 

The chief told Flute-player to build a fire, and the latter pro- 
duced the coals from his remaining flute. A large fire was made. 
It was then that people lost their language. Those close to the fire 
talked correctly. The people at the north side of the assembly house 
talked brokenly. Those at the south side talked altogether different; 
so did those at the west side and at the east side. This was because 
of the cold. 

Coyote brought entrails and threw them on the tire, extinguishing 
it. The people became angry and expelled Coyote, telling him to re- 
main outside and to eat his food raw. That is why Coyote always 
eats his meat uncooked. 

13. BEAB AND THE FAWNS 

"Sister-in-law, let us hunt grass," said Bear. "Let us go," said 
Deer. After they had gone a distance, Bear said, "Let me louse your 
head. Let me bite the lice." Bear bit Deer so that she died. 

Deer had told her Fawns before she left that a bag hung in the 
house. She told the Fawns: "If your aunt, Bear, harms me, bites 
me, that bag will fall from where it hangs." The bag fell. Then 
the Fawns saw their aunt returning. After she entered the house, 
they started to search her basket. She said to them crossly, "You are 
always looking for something to eat. You are always hungry. Keep 
away from that basket." They kept searching, however, and found 
their mother's liver. They cried, "Liver, liver." 

Later the Fawns and the Bear Cubs played in a hole [sweat 
house?], fanning smoke into eacli other's faces. First the Cubs 
fanned the Fawns. "When we call, .you must stop fanning," said 



334 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Ethn. [Vol. 12 

the Fawns. After the Fawns had been smoked, they told the Cubs 
to enter. The Fawns then fanned the Cubs in the hole. The smoke 
became too dense and the Cubs called to the Fawns to cease. They 
only fanned the harder until the Cubs were suffocated. 

"Mother, mother, liver; mother, mother, liver; mother, mother, 
liver," cried the Fawns. Their aunt, Bear, said, "What is the use of 
talking about your mother. She is camping for the men." The 
Fawns only cried the more, "Mother, mother, liver." "Stop saying 
that, or I shall bite you," said Bear. "Your mother is still camping." 

"Grandchildren, for whom are you searching?" said the Lizard. 
The Fawns replied, "Grandfather, we are hunting for our mother. 
Grandfather, will you show us the door of your house ? Our aunt 
wants to kill us. Mother, mother, mother, mother. Grandfather, let 
us in on the east side of your house, on the south side." Their grand- 
father finally let them in. 

Bear arrived at Lizard's house after the latter had taken in the 
Fawns. She called, "Nieces, where are you? I am looking for you. 
Please let me in quickly." She tried to enter, asking repeatedly where 
the door was located. They told her to go to the top of the house. 
"The door is right on top of the house," they said. 

Meanwhile they heated a stone in the fire. They said to Bear : 
"Open your mouth wide and come down through the smoke hole." 
As Bear entered with her mouth open, they shoved the red-hot stone 
down her throat. She died in agony, being burned to death from 
within. 

14. YAYALI, THE GIANT 

"Where are you, grandchild? Where are you, grandchild? 
Where are .you ? Where are you ? Yes. Yes. I am lost. Where are 
you? This way. Where are you, grandchild? Someone comes. Look 
out. Get ready. Prepare yourself, for Yayali conies. 

The people broke cones from the tops of the pine trees and bundled 
these together. As Yayali started to climb the declivity where the 
people had taken refuge, they set fire to the bundles of pine cones 
and threw them into Yaj'ali's burden basket. They threw the burn- 
ing cones into the basket. Yayali became so hot that he tumbled. 
"Which way shall I fall?" he asked. They told him to fall to the 
north. 

[The Giant met his death near Columbia, Tuolumne County. The 
informant has seen white rocks near Columbia, reputed to be the 
bleached bones of the Giant. 1 



1917] Clifford: Miwul: My tits 335 



ABSTRACTS 

1. The Theft of Fire Geese and others gather in an assembly house in the 
hills. They lack fire. Lizard discovers lire emerging from an assembly house in 
the valley. Flute-player (Mouse) goes to steal fire. He finds the entrances of 
the assembly house guarded by Bear, Rattlesnake, Mountain Lion, and Eagle. 
He enters through the smoke hole by cutting the feathers of Eagle's wing. lb' 
fills with fire four flutes with which he escapes. On the homeward journey he is 
pursued by Rain and Hail. Hail catches him, but Flute-player has concealed 
his flutes in the water ami denies having the lire. He is met by Coyote, 
who has become impatient. After his arrival, Flute-player plays his flutes on 
top of the assembly house, dropping coals through the smoke hole. Coyote 
interrupts him before he finishes. Because of the interruption, some people 
receive no fire. Those in the middle of the assembly house receive fire, cook their 
food, and talk correctly. Those on the sides (distant tribes) receive none, eat 
raw food, and talk differently. 

'2. Bear and the Fa tens. Bear invites her sister-in-law, Deer, to gather clover. 
They louse each other. Bear kills Deer by biting her neck, eats her, and takes 
home the liver in a basket of clover, which she gives to Deer's two daughters. 
The Fawns recognize the liver and decide to escape. They take with them their 
mother 's baskets, awds, and brushes, which they throw off the trail as they flee. 
As Bear pursues, these objects whistle and decoy her from the trail. The 
Fawns cross a river on the stretched leg of their grandfather, Daddy Longlegs. 
When Bear crosses, he withdraws his leg and she falls in the river. The Fawns 
reach the assembly house of Lizard, another grandfather, who shelters them 
and heats two white stones. On Bear's arrival she is told to enter through the 
smoke hole with her mouth open and eyes closed. Lizard then throws the hot 
stones down her throat. After her death, he dresses her hide and cuts it. The 
larger piece he gives to the older Fawn, the smaller piece to the younger. He 
tells them to run and discover the sound they make. The smaller hide makes 
the louder noise. When they run against a tree, the younger Fawn shatters it 
more completely. Lizard send the Fawns above and they become Thunders. 

3. Yayali, the (limit. The Giant enters the hills in search of human victims. 
Chipmunk, imagining that his wife's brother approaches, answers the Giant's 
calls. As he brings the Giant to his assembly house the latter kills him witli a 
stone from his burden basket. Chipmunk is eaten by the Giant, who marries 
his widow. She hides Chipmunk's daughter in a pit, feeding her venison. The 
woman pretends to eat the human flesh and pine nuts obtained by the Giant, 
but in reality eats only venison and pine nuts obtained by Chipmunk. She gives 
birth to two giants. 

Chipmunk 's brother dreams of him and visits him. He finds the doors of 
Chipmunk 's house blocked with boulders to prevent the escape of Chipmunk 's 
widow. Chipmunk's brother prepares to kill the Giant. He digs holes and 
sharpens a manzanita stick. He sends his sister-in-law to her father. She takes 
her daughter and a deer skin of crushed obsidian. The Giant returns and tries 
to capture Chipmunk's brother, who escapes by jumping into his holes. He tells 
the Giant that he will allow himself to be captured after the Giant dances. From 
the roof he decapitates the Giant, whose head projects through the smoke hole 
when he dances. 



336 University of California Publications- in Am. Arch, and Etlm. [Vol. 12 

The Giant 's brothers, following a dream, visit their brother 's house and 
unknowingly eat his flesh which Chipmunk 's brother has scattered about oh trees 
and rocks. The youngest Giant discovers his brother 's head. Following dreams, 
the Giants pursue Chipmunk's widow, who escapes repeatedly by throwing crushed 
obsidian in their eyes. She reaches the house of Lizard, her father, who spits 
on the house and turns it to stone. He calls upon the wind, the snow, the hail, 
and the flood to destroy the Giant's brothers. They blow back the wind, melt 
the snow by shouting, and stop the hail by shouting. The flood drowns them. 

4. The Making of Arrows. Two brothers, Prairie Falcon and Dove, decide 
to hunt, but lack weapons. They throw their grandmother into the water, taking 
her tooth for a knife and pulling sinew from her limbs. They make a bow and 
arrows. Their grandmother enters the water and becomes Beaver. The two 
brothers have a contest, shooting twice to the east end of the w r orld, and twice 
to the west end. The arrows strike together. The brothers race to them, both 
running at the same speed. The second time that they shoot west the arrows 
strike in a bush, the root of which they eat while digging. 

Their grandmother causes the water to drown Prairie Falcon. Dove rolls 
about the country crying for his dead brother and bruising and cutting himself. 
He meets Spark, whom he sends to visit the old woman, who is crushing bones. 
A small bone flies forth winch Spark seizes and places on an arrow. He shoots 
it to Dove, who picks it up. The point transforms itself into Prairie Falcon, 
who cries over his brother Dove 's injuries. The various birds contribute one 
feather apiece with which Dove is rehabilitated. The brothers travel about the 
world visiting the rocks which bruised Dove. They fail to secure the return of 
their grandmother, who remains in the river as Beaver. Thenceforth all people 
make arrows. 

5. Prairie Falcon's Marriage. Chief Prairie Falcon marries Green Heron's 
daughter, also Meadowlark. Chief Eagle takes Meadowlark. Prairie Falcon in 
anger travels about the world. He threatens to kill his unfaithful wife if she 
follows him, but changes his mind when his sister says that his wife will save 
his life. Returning, he visits his sister, who tells her husband, Lizard, to restrain 
his dogs, which are rattlesnakes and bears. 

Prairie Falcon starts for the place where his father died. He wife follows. 
He goes south. Upon his return he finds that his wife has followed him, so he 
sets out to overtake her. Together they visit his father, Owl. Lizard throws 
fire, causing a conflagration. Prairie Falcon escapes by flight. His wife 
escapes by pulling two hairs, which become a lake, in which she submerges her- 
self. Aided by the winds, Prairie Falcon and wife pass through a hole which 
closes and opens. At his father's village, he finds that Chief Mountain Sheep's 
people wish to play games with him, the loser to forfeit his life. Chief Moun- 
tain Sheep demands the loan of Prairie Falcon 's wife and sends in exchange 
another woman with whom Prairie Falcon declines to sleep. Prairie Falcon 
objects to sending his wife to Mountain Sheep's house, and in vain offers a 
string of beads in lieu of her. 

Gopher aids Prairie Falcon by digging tunnels on Mountain Sheep 's side of 
the field. Following football games which Prairie Falcon wins, he shoots Moun- 
tain Sheep. 

He tells his sister that he killed the people at the other village. She tells 
him not to speak thus in the presence of Lizard. Prairie Falcon is offended 
and leaves home, going to his father-in-law, Green Heron, and remaining two 
days. His father, Dove, and Coyote urge him to marry a girl with whom 
he has been going. 



RD 1.4 6 



1917] Gifford: Miwok Myth* 337 

6. The Flood. Chiefs Prairie Falcon and Eagle and their people take refuge 
upon a high mountain to escape a flood. Coyote is unable to go because he lias 
lost a leg. He escapes by clinging to a log. On the mountain dwells Rattlesnake. 
The waters rise higher, necessitating a second flight. Flicker carries Rattlesnake, 
who bites him. Rattlesnake is dropped and drowns. The refugees find a piece 
of dry land. The entire world is flooded. Prairie Falcon sends forth Dove to 
discover if human beings survive. Later Prairie Falcon sends forth Dove and 
Hummingbird to bring mud. He tells them not to eat seeds or suck flowers. 

7. The Sepeopling of the World. Following the flood there are no human 
beings. All have drowned. Chief Eagle asks Coyote to resurrect mankind. 
Coyote does so 1>\ singing many days, following the advice of a skeleton which 
appears in a dream. 

8. The Search for the Veer. The deer hide themselves in various caves in 
the mountains. The people starve. The hunters, Mountain Lion, Fox, Wild Cat, 
Black Fox, and Crow, search in vain for deer. Crow does not return. Others 
search for him. A second Crow, brothel of Crow who fails to return, searches 
for him and for the deer. From a mountain top he discovers the deer in a cave. 

The i pie surround the cave and young Mountain Lion enters to start, the 

slaughter. He faints from the heat and his father, Chief Mountain Lion, rescues 
him. All deer escape. Some people die of starvation. None return home be- 
cause weak with hunger. Chief Mountain Lion proceeds homeward alone. He 
meets Skunk, who demands a ride on his back, agreeing to save the lives of some 
of the people. The Chief gives him a ride. Skunk tells the Chief that he does 
not care if all of the people die, so long as he rides across the river. The chief 
pretends to stumble. Skunk falls into the river and drowns. Across the river 
the chief meets the first Crow descending a hill with deer. The remaining 
people are saved. 

9. Salamander and Chipmunk. Salamander tells Chipmunk that he failed to 
obtain a big deer. Chipmunk sets out in search of his father. He meets two 
Deer women, who capture him and take him to the sky. Their father throws 
ropes to them with which to lash Chipmunk. Chipnmnk refuses to eat seed. 
He kills their father after fattening him by singing. Two of Chipmunk's 
brothers, Brown Bird and Tuyipitina, search for him in vain. His older brother 
climbs to the sky and rescues him. The two brothers escape by clinging to 
arrows which strike at their home. At home Chipmunk builds a fire into which 
he throws Salamander, whom he blames for his troubles. 

10. Lizard and Fox. Lizard goes below to eat worms. Tarantula tells him 
to be sure to return, as Fox is to hunt. Fox assembles the hunters. Each boasts 
of his prowess and of what he intends to do in the deer hunt. Mountain Lion, 
Mountain Quail, Bald Eagle, Wolf, Coyote, Crow, Skunk, Dove, Humminglm d, 
Brown Wren, California Jay, and Turkey Vulture participate in the hunt. Turtle 
promises to carry water for the hunters. Fox orders that Night Hawk be left 
home, for fear that he might swallow the largest deer whole. Races between 
Dove and Hummingbird and an arrow-dodging contest between Brown Wren 
and Jay are discussed. 

Each hunter obtains one deer. Fox waits until the last deer are passing. 
With one arrow he kills four deer in four canyons. While they skin the deer. 
Skunk visits his son-in-law, Fox, and asks that he be allowed to ride on top of 
the pile which Fox is to carry. While Skunk and Fox threaten to shoot each 
other with their fluid and arrows respectively, Night Hawk takes the largest de< 
in his mouth. When accused of theft by Fox, Night Hawk denies it. 



338 University of California Publications in Am. Arch, and Etlm. [Vol.12 

11. Valley Quail's Adventures. Young Valley Quail visits his father in the 
mountains. He carries in a bag his father's "poison,'' which consists of yellow- 
jackets ami other stinging insects. At his bidding the insects kill various animals. 
Coyote insists that he has food in his bag. Quail allows Coyote to open it and 
the insects sting him to death. Other creatures killed are deer, bears, mountain 
lions, mountain sheep, rattlesnakes, an immense fabulous rattlesnake named 
Hamaua, and black bears. Valley Quail's father is surprised that his son arrives 
safely. His son demonstrates his use of the poison. He plans to return on 
the following day. 

12. The Theft of Fire. A brief version of 1, also accounting for buckeye fire 
drill. 

13. Bear and tin Fawns. A brief version of 2, plus suffocation of Bear Cubs. 

14. Yayali, tin Giant. A very brief version of 3, in which Giant is burned 
to death. 









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